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THE  STATE  OF  MASSACHUSETTS  MILITARY 
ORDER  OFTHE   LOYAL  LEGION  OF  THE 
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UNIVERSITY  OF  N.C.  AT  CHAPEL  HILL 

00022229508 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2012  with  funding  from 

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THE 


BOBBIN    BOY; 


OB, 


HOW    NAT   GOT   HIS    LEARNING 


AN    EXAMPLE    FOR    YOUTH. 


BOSTON 

LEE  AND  SHEPARD,  PUBLISHERS 

10  Milk  Street 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1860,  by 

~.  K  TILTON  AND  COMPANY, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  for  the  District  of  Massachusetts- 


PREFACE 


The  design  of  this  volume  is  to  show  the  young 
how  "  odd  moments  "  and  small  opportunities  may 
be  used  in  the  acquisition  of  knowledge.  The  hero 
of  the  tale  —  Nat  —  is  a  living  character,  whose 
actual  boyhood  and  youth  are  here  delineated  — 
an  unusual  example  of  energy,  industry,  persever- 
ance, application,  and  enthusiasm  in  prosecuting  a 
life  purpose. 

The  conclusion  of  the  story  will  convince  the 
reader,  that  the  group  of  characters  which  sur- 
round Nat  are  not  creations  of  the  fancy,  and  that 
each  is  the  bearer  of  one  or  more  important  lessons 
to  the  young.  While  some  of  them  forcibly  illus- 
trate the  consequences  of  idleness,  disobedience, 
tippling,  and  kindred  vices,  in  youth,  others  are 
bright  examples  of  the  manly  virtues,  that  always 
command  respect,  and  achieve  success. 


(Hi) 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER    I 


A    GOOD     BEGINNING. 

The  patch  of  squashes  —  counting  chickens  before  they  are  hatched 

—  ifs  —  ducks,  and  the  bright  side  —  explanation  —  hopeful  Nat  — 
Nathaniel  Bowditch  —  Sir  Humphrey  Davy  —  Buxton  —  benefit 
of  hopefulness  —  the  squashes  coming  up  —  Frank  Martin  —  "all 
play  and  no  work"  —  Ben  Drake  —  scene  when  Nat  was  four 
years  old  —  "thinking  on  his  own  hook"  —  men  of  mark  think 
for  themselves  —  "  niggers'  work  "  —  great  men  not  ashamed  of 
useful  work  —  the  harvest-day  —  Frank's  surprise  —  Nat  as  a  ped- 
dler —  his  sister  —  his  drawings  —  Samuel  Budgett,  Dr.  Kitto, 
and  the  rich  merchant  peddling  —  "  creep  before  you  can  walk  " — 
the  errand-boy  and  his  success  —  what  his  culture  of  squashes 
shows page  1-17 

CHAPTER    II. 

UPWARD   AND    ONWARD. 

Winter  —  in  school  —  proposition  to  declaim  —  the  dialogue,  "Alex- 
ander the  Great  and  a  Robber  "  —  Nat  is  the  robber  —  his  reason 

—  sympathy  for  the  poor  and  unfortunate  —  the  dialogue  learned 
and  spoken  —  Nat's  eloquence  —  some  boys  who  declaim  poorly 
at  first  make  orators  at  last  —  Demosthenes  —  Daniel  "Webster  — 
Nat  declaiming  before  visitors  —  the  petition  for  shorter  lessons  — 

( v ) 


VI  CONTENTS. 

Nat  won't  sign  it  —  Sam  Drake's  predicament  —  the  teacher  hears 
of  the  movement  —  his  remarks  about  dull  scholars  —  Newton, 
Dr.  Barrows,  Adam  Clarke,  Chatterton,  Napoleon,  etc.  —  neces- 
sity of  application       17-27 

CHAPTER    III. 

SATURDAY   AFTERNOON. 

The  bright  summer-time  —  sport  at  Frank's  —  the  dog  "  Trip  " 
playing  hy-spy  —  the  boys  hiding  —  Trip  finding  them  —  the  re- 
sult of  the  first  game  —  the  second  game  —  the  court  scene  —  talk 
about  it  with  Sylvester  Jones  —  Nat  goes  to  court  —  the  prisoners 
are  two  of  his  schoolmates  —  his  sympathy  for  them  —  examina- 
tion of  witnesses  —  the  remarks  of  the  justice — Nat  proposes  to 
plead  their  case  —  the  sensation  and  I'esult  —  what  was  said  of  it 

—  another  instance  of  Nat's  sympathy  —  what  it  foreshadowed  — 
Howard  —  Wilberforce  —  Buxton 28-37 

CHAPTER    IV. 

THE    WILD    CHERRIES. 

The  excursion  —  John's  proposition  —  decision  to  go  —  the  cherry- 
tree  —  is  it  wild  ?  —  a  discussion  —  filling  their  caps  —  surprised 
by  the  owner  —  their  escape  —  Nat's  and  Frank's  caps  left  behind 
—  the  owner  carries  them  to  the  house  —  Nat's  resolve  to  go  to  his 
house  —  rapping  at  the  door  —  his  explanation  and  confession  — 
the  caps  restored  with  a  plenty  of  cherries  —  the  end  thereof     38-47 

CHAPTER    V. 

ATHLETIC    SPORTS. 

Bathing  —  a  passion  for  it  —  a  particular  swim  —  Nat  the  best  swim- 
mer —  swimming  under  water  —  a  trial  —  a  game  of  ball  —  Nat 
the  best  player  —  the  result  of  the  game  —  remarks  of  spectators 

—  the  fastest  runner  —  a  principle  to  be  best  —  excelled  in  athletic 
sports  through  same  elements  of  character  that  made  him  excel  in 
school  —  the  best  shoe-black  —  Reynolds  made  every  picture  best 

—  Buxton's  sports  in  boyhood,  and  Sir  Walter  Scott's  —  Welling- 


CONTENTS.  VU 

ton's  remark  —  Nat's  remark  twenty-five  years  after  —  Nat  saving 
a  boy  from  drowning  —  his  picture  of  the  scene  —  how  he  used 
his  experience  in  athletic  games 48-56 

CHAPTER    VI. 

A   MISTAKE. 

Winter  school  again  —  the  skating  proposition  —  the  proposed  gram- 
mar class  —  Nat  does  not  accede  —  discussion  on  the  way  to  the 
pond  —  Nat  the  best  skater  —  the  palm  yielded  to  him  —  home  to 
supper  —  teacher's  remarks  next  day  about  grammar  —  advice  to 
Nat  and  Charlie  —  his  reference  to  Benjamin  Franklin  and  Pat- 
rick Henry  —  Nat  and  Charlie  join  the  class  —  conversation 
among  the  boys,  and  with  Nat  in  particular  —  Sam  put  into  the 
objective  case,  and  his  mischief-making  propensity  —  tying  a  tin- 
pail  to  a  dog's  tail  —  the  delight  of  Sam  —  the  sorrow  of  Nat,  and 
verdict  of  the  boys  —  Sam  an  improper  noun  —  the  end  of  school 

57-68 

CHAPTER    VII. 

PROSPECT  HILL. 

Proposed  visit  to  Prospect  Hill  —  a  hundred  churches  —  situation 
and  description  of  the  hill  —  view  from  the  top  —  Trip  accom- 
panies them  — meeting  with  Sam  and  Ben  Drake  —  Sam's  assault 
upon  Trip  —  Frank's  feelings  —  Nat's  love  of  nature  —  this 
characterizes  youth  generally  who  become  renowned  —  Sir  Francis 
Chantrey  —  Robert  Burns  —  Hugh  Miller  —  more  hope  of  boys 
who  love  the  beautiful  of  nature  and  art  —  reaching  the  summit  — . 
a  fire  in  the  city  —  Sam's  anger  —  counting  the  churches  —  Sam 
kicks  Trip  down  the  precipice — Frank  and  Nat  crying  — 
Sam's  ridicule  —  Sam  and  Ben  leave  —  Nat  tells  a  story  —  carry- 
ing dead  Trip  home 69-82 

CHAPTER    VIII. 

THE   END    OP    SCHOOL-DATS. 

The  agent  of  the  factory  wants  Nat  —  picker-boy  in  Lowell  a  short 
time  > —  his  home-sickness  —  a  good  sign  for  boys  to  love  home. 


Vlll  CONTENTS. 

and  why  —  bad  boys  do  not  love  home  —  the  young  man  in 
prison — such  lads  sneer  at  home-sickness  —  interview  of  Nat's 
father  and  mother  on  the  subject — their  conclusion  to  put  him  into 
the  factory  —  end  of  school-days 83-89 

CHAPTER    IX. 

OPENING   THE    SUBJECT. 

Nat  coming  home — telling  the  sad  news  to  his  mother  —  sifting 
Sam  Drake's  character  —  going  to  Frank's  to  bury  Trip  — 
asking  permission  of  parents  —  how  some  take  advantage  — 
Frank's  arrangement  for  the  burial  —  Trip's  coffin  —  buried 
in  the  garden  —  Nat's  funeral  oration  —  going  to  supper  —  the 
difficult  lesson  in  arithmetic  —  stunned  by  the  announcement — 
his  objection  —  his  mother  suggested  that  the  operatives  had  a 
library  —  the  result,  and  Nat's  last  thoughts  at  night  .     .     90-99 

CHAPTER    X. 

THE   NEW    CALL. 

Monday  morning  —  prompt  boys  —  not  a  lazy  bone  in  Nat  —  how 
the  bell  called  him  —  his  first  appearance  at  the  factory  —  remark 
of  the  overseer  —  meeting  with  Charlie  Stone  there  —  Charlie's 
character  —  making  use  of  knowledge  acquired  and  difference  in 
boys  —  talk  with  the  agent  about  the  library  —  his  advice  about 
spare  moments  —  William  Cobbett's  account  of  his  own  privations 
in  early  life  —  Nat's  first  noon-time  —  his  work  as  bobbin  boy  — 
takes  the  life  of  Dr.  Franklin  out  of  the  library  —  meets  with  David 
Sears  —  punctuality  a  cardinal  virtue  —  how  the  factory  bell  cul- 
tivates punctuality  —  here  the  beginning  of  his  student  life  —  read 
through  life  of  Franklin  before  Saturday  night    .     .     .     100-112 

CHAPTER    XI. 

THE    LOFTY   STUDY. 

Nat's  proposition  for  systematic  study  —  Charlie  goes  to  his  house  — 
his  study  in  the  attic  —  Dr.  Kitto's  study  not  so  good  —  nor  St. 
Pierre's  —  they  read  and  discuss  Franklin  and  Patrick  Henry  — 


CONTENTS.  IX 

copy  of  Franklin's  rules  —  Patrick  Henry's  faculty  of  observation 
—  Nat  like  him  —  studying  men  and  things  —  the  case  of  Shak- 
speare  —  Nat  the  best  penman  in  the  mill  —  choice  between  study 
and  the  party  —  obliged  to  deny  himself  for  the  sake  of  study  — 
some  disarrangements  —  thinks  he  can  never  know  much  —  the 
poor  not  so  good  a  chance  as  the  rich  —  wealth  of  character 

113-123 

CHAPTER    XII. 

THE   DEDICATION. 

A  hall  to  be  dedicated  —  Nat's  conversation  with  Frank  about  it, 
and  removal  of  the  library  —  going  to  the  dedication  —  the  ad~ 
dress  on  Count  Rumford  —  a  sketch  of  the  address  to  show  why 
Nat  was  so  deeply  interested  —  Count  Rumford's  origin,  boyhood, 
rise,  learning,  benevolence,  and  fame  —  conversation  with  his 
mother  about  it  —  conversation  with  Charlie  at  the  factory  —  a 
life-long  impression  made  on  his  mind  by  it     ...     .     124-133 

CHAPTER    XIII. 

A    SCHOOL   SCENE. 

A  difficulty  with  Sam  Drake  in  school  —  Nat  hears  of  it — a  true 
account  —  Sam  writes  a  letter  about  the  teacher  —  the  teacher 
discovers  it  —  many  words  spelled  incorrectly  —  a  copy  of  the  let- 
ter —  Sam  called  into  the  floor  —  made  to  spell  the  words  he  has 
spelled  wrong  —  spells  Alpheus,  Coombs,  knife,  bargain,  spec- 
tacles — merriment  it  occasioned  in  school  —  Sam  refuses  to  spell 
more  —  he  is  punished  and  conquered  —  spells  again  —  then  he  is 
ferruled  —  sent  to  his  seat  —  advice  to  the  school  —  a  good  teacher 
—  his  case  before  the  committee  —  expelled  —  what  the  incident 
teaches      134-141 

CHAPTER    XIV. 

TAKING    SIDES. 

The  Federalist  —  Jefferson  and  the  Democrat —  the  four  votes  — 
studied  with  all  his  soul  —  Jefferson  wrote  the  Declaration  of  In- 
dependence —  reading  it —  difference  between  Jefferson  and  Adams 


X  CONTENTS. 

—  Jefferson's  views  of  slavery  —  extract  from  his  writings  —  an- 
other extract  —  why  Nat  adopted  these  principles  — his  early  sym- 
pathies—  the  life  of  Jefferson  made  lasting  impression  on  his 
mind  —  case  of  Guido  —  Cotton  Mather's  "  Essays  to  do  Good  " 

—  Dr.  Franklin — Jeremy  Bentham  and  greatest  good  to  greatest 
number  —  Alfieri  and  "  Plutarch's  Lives  "  —  Loyola  and  "  Lives 
of  the  Saints  "  —  a  picture  made  —  Dr.  Guthrie       .     .     142-155 

CHAPTER    XV. 

THREE  IMPORTANT  EVENTS. 

Frank  in  the  factory  —  bad  to  be  poor  —  worse  to  be  mean  —  great 
men  generally  poor  —  dispute  with  Dr.  Franklin  —  intimate 
friendship  with  Frank  —  the  poor  sympathize  with  each  other  — 
so  with  the  rich  —  influence  of  kindred  occupation  —  the  new 
comer  —  his  poverty  —  who  Marcus  was  —  the  kind  letter  that 
brought  trial  —  proposition  to  leave  home  —  talk  with  his  mother 

—  reminded  of  Marcus  —  decision  to  leave  home  —  departure,  and 
new  field  —  gone  three  years  —  his  return 156-164 

CHAPTER    XVI. 

FINDING   A   LOST    OPPORTUNITY. 

Odd  moments  at  grammar — making  up  for  a  lost  opportunity  — 
confession  of  an  error  —  inquiry  after  Sam  Drake  —  his  bad 
character  —  Ben  Drake  —  mastering  grammar  alone  —  nothing 
dry  in  which  we  are  interested  —  Nat's  literary  pocket  —  Roger 
Sherman's  pocket  —  Napoleon's  pocket  —  Hugh  Miller's  pocket 

—  Elihu  Burritt's  pocket — many  boys  carry  only  a  jack-knife  in 
their  pocket  —  value  of  one  hour  a  day  —  ten  years  of  study  in 
half  a  century  —  lost  opportunities  not  found — the  proposed  de- 
bating club —  Marcus  again 165-173 

CHAPTER    XVII. 

THE    PURCHASE. 

A  spare  day  —  visit  to  Boston  bookstores  —  shoe-leather  cheap  and 
the  proposed  walk  —  conversation  with  Charlie  and  Frank  —  the 


CONTENTS.  XI 

walk  to  Boston  —  what  would  attract  some  boys  there  —  the  book- 
stores drew  Nat  —  conversation  with  a  bookseller — purchase  of 
"  Locke's  Essay  on  the  Understanding  "  —  his  examination  of 
books  —  bits  of  knowledge  —  Dr.  Kitto  and  the  book-stall  — 
homeward  bound  —  Monday  morning  with  Charlie  — influence  of 
Locke's  Essay  on  him  —  its  influence  was  such  on  Eobert  Burns, 
Samuel  Drew,  and  Mendelssohn  —  it  aids  the  speaker  to  under- 
stand the  laws  of  human  nature  —  more  visits  to  Boston      1 74-1 82 


CHAPTER    XVIII. 

THE    DEBATING   SOCIETY. 

Plans  carried  out  —  its  object  —  how  it  must  be  conducted  —  the 
organization  —  rule  to  make  it  respectable — his  desire  to  make 
all  things  respectable  —  the  fire  company  reformed  —  the  first  dis- 
cussion —  the  question  —  an  evening  without  a  question  —  how 
they  got  over  it  —  Nat's  speech  —  curiosity  to  hear  —  tremendous 
compliments  —  Nat  wards  them  off —  contends  that  a  man  may 
become  what  he  wants  to  be  —  this  the  view  of  Buxton  and 
others  —  influence  of  the  debating  society  on  Nat  —  a  similar 
society  influenced  Curran,  the  Irish  orator  —  and  a  living  Amer- 
ican statesman — Canning,  the  English  statesman  —  and  Henry 
Clay  —  interesting  account  of  a  similar  society  in  Boston     1 83-1 95 

CHAPTER    XIX. 

COMING   AND    GOING. 

Ben  Drake's  visit  —  the  welcome  of  Frank  —  Mrs.  Martin's  ques- 
tions —  surprise  at  learning  that  Ben  is  a  Christian  —  going  to  the 
prayer-meeting  —  Frank  surprised  to  hear  Ben  speak  —  goes  to  tell 
Nat  the  next  morning  —  their  conversation  —  Ben  calls  around  — 
announcement  that  "Webster  would  speak  in  Boston — Nat's  resolve 
to  hear  him  —  the  walk  to  Boston  —  the  speech  —  Nat's  observa- 
tion and  remarks  —  power  of  the  human  voice  —  hearing  Edward 
Everett  —  walks  to  hear  other  speakers  —  learned  much  of  the  use 
of  language  and  oratory  by  observation  —  so  with  Robert  Bloom- 
field — the  charm  of  the  voice 196-205 


xii  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER   XX. 

GOSSIP. 

Talk  which  Nat  created  —  scene  in  the  sewing  circle  —  nse  of  spare 
moments — boys  who  read  their  leisure  moments  not  get  into 
mischief — old  Mrs.  Lane  on  education  —  her  ideas  about  his 
going  to  hear  Webster  and  Everett  and  the  book  in  his  pocket  —  • 
how  much  time  he  saves  a  day  for  reading  —  wants  more  boys 
like  Nat  —  his  going  to  the  party  —  sympathy  for  the  slighted  — 
explanation  of  the  scene  —  waiting  upon  the  slighted  girls  —  the 
effect  of  it  —  Nat's  decision,  independence,  and  kind-hearted 
nature  enabled  him  to  do  it  —  like  Robert  Burns  in  this  respect 

206-213 

CHAPTER    XXI. 

GOING   TO   THE    THEATRE. 

Nat's  desire  to  witness  a  tragedy  played  —  resolve  to  go  and  hear 
Booth  —  talk  with  his  companions  —  what  would  be  said  —  the 
evening  of  his  visit  —  the  play  —  after  conversation  with  his  com- 
panions — the  bar  —  why  vices  connected  with  theatres  —  can  they 
be  severed  from  it  —  Nat  wants  to  hear  more  —  at  home  at  one 
o'clock  —  outside  remarks  afterwards  — his  course  criticized  — 
went  a  number  of  times  thereafter  —  his  object  in  going  good  — 
yet  it  was  not  safe  —  the  Roman  youth  at  the  amphitheatre  —  so 
with  theatre-goers  —  theatres  always  been  schools  of  vice  —  acts 
of  Congress  against  —  vain  attempt  to  make  theatres  respectable 
in  Boston  —  the  legend  of  Tertullian  —  the  actor  Macready  ex- 
posed the  vice  of  theatres  —  Judge  Bulstrode's  charge  —  Sir 
Matthew  Hale's  experience  in  boyhood  —  opinion  of  the  infidel 
Rousseau 214-225 

CHAPTER    XXII, 

THE    DRAMATIC    SOCIETY. 

The  proposition  —  how  it  was  met  —  they  undertake  it  —  how  the 
theatre  creates  love  of  such  amusement  —  the  nephew  who  became 


CONTENTS.  Xlii 

en  actor  by  hearing  — playing  Macbeth  —  make  their  own  scenery 
—  Nat  wrote  constitution  —  evening  of  the  organization — even- 
ing of  the  first  play  —  a  success  —  remarks  of  Mr  Graves  adverse 
to  such  performances  —  talk  in  the  village  —  remarks  of  old  Mrs. 
Lane  —  why  Nat  does  it  —  conversation  with  Charlie  —  Nat  op- 
posed to  being  an  actor  —  desire  to  be  a  statesman  .     .    226-234 

CHAPTER    XXIII. 

THE    SURPRISE. 

The  news  —  discussion  in  the  town  lyceum  —  occasioned  by  the 
dramatic  society  —  the  question  "Are  dramatical  exhibitions  bene- 
ficial to  society  1 "  —  the  evening  of  the  debate —  Nat  goes  —  Mr. 
Bryant's  remarks  on  the  low  origin  of  theatres  —  remarks  of  an- 
other on  the  immorality  of  actors  —  of  another  on  the  profane  and 
vulgar  parts  of  plays  —  seven  thousand  indecent  sentences  in 
English  plays  —  King  James  the  First  —  Addison's  view  — the 
class  of  persons  who  patronize  theatres  —  Nat's  excitement  — 
Frank's  question  —  Nat's  attention  —  rises  to  speak  —  the  surprise 
of  the  audience  —  his  argument  and  eloquence  astonished  all  — 
remark  of  Dr.  Holt  —  reminds  us  of  Patrick  Henry  —  description 
of  his  first  plea  —  his  triumph  —  Charlie's  view  —  Nat's  argument 
changed  no  one's  view  —  Ms  eloquence  they  admired  —  invited 
to  join  town  lyceum  —  the  dramatic  society  dead      .     .     235-250 

CHAPTER    XXIV. 

ANOTHER   STEP. 

Making  a  new  study  —  conversation  with  Charlie  — Nat's  new  plans 
— study  furniture  —  manual  labor  —  Charlie's  opinion  —  excessive 
reading  bad  —  using  what  is  learned  —  Coleridge's  description  of 
readers  —  difference  between  Nat  and  Charlie  —  Burke's  Essay  on 
the  Sublime  and  Beautiful  —  a  bit  of  humor  —  using  the  library  of 
Harvard  College  —  his  walks  thither  —  power  of  concentrating 
thoughts  —  Hugh  Miller  fighting  imaginary  battles  with  shells  — 
Cary  made  a  missionary  by  reading  voyages  of  Captain  Cook  — 
Nat's  invincible  purpose   . 251-259 


XIV  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTEK   XXV. 

EULOGY   BY   JOHN    QUINCY  ADAMS. 

"Working  on  the  mill-dam  —  news  of  the  eulogy  on  Madison  —  how 
much  he  would  sacrifice  to  hear  him  —  general  regard  for  personal 
appearance  —  goes  in  his  workshop  dress  —  a  view  of  him  in  the 
crowd  —  talk  in  the  machine-shop  —  Nat  back  again  —  his  views 
of  the  eulogy  —  conversation  — his  leading  traits  of  character  seen 
here 260-265 

CHAPTER    XXVI. 

THE   TEMPERANCE   SOCIETY. 

Beginning  of  the  total  abstinence  movement  —  Nat  espouses  the 
cause  —  talk  with  his  companions  about  forming  a  society  — ■ 
James  Cole  opposes  —  making  a  beast  of  one's  self — the  gutter 
theory — customary  for  youth  to  drink  then  —  drinking  usages  — 
the  decision  to  organize  a  society  —  preparations  —  evening  of  the 
organization  —  Nat's  speech  and  presentation  of  constitution  —  the 
choice  of  officers  —  Frank  Martin  president,  and  Charlie  Stone 
secretary  —  important  event  for  that  time  —  sensation  in  the  vil- 
lage —  scene  in  a  grog-shop  —  signing  away  liberty  —  Nat  invited 
to  give  a  lecture  before  the  society  —  the  decision  and  firmness 
required  then  to  advocate  total  abstinence  .     .    .    .     .    266-276 

CHAPTER    XXVII. 

THE    TEMPERANCE   LECTURE. 

News  of  the  lecture  flies  —  scene  in  Miles's  grog-shop — the  rum- 
seller  resolves  to  go  —  a  crowd  to  hear  the  lecture  —  "  The  Fifteen 
Gallon  Law"  was  his  subject — portrayed  the  evils  of  intemper- 
ance—  showed  that  the  proposed  law  would  remove  the  evil 
among  the  poor  —  showed  that  it  introduced  no  new  principle  of 
legislation  —  discussed  other  topics  —  the  lecture  gained  him  much 
applause  —  the  rumseller  Miles  was  reached  and  resolved  to  quit 
selling  liquor  — Johnson  his  customer  attacking  him  next  morning 
—  their  battle  of  words — the  result  —  delivered  the  lecture  in 
neighboring  towns  —  delivered  others  at  home    .     .    .    277-286 


CONTENTS.  XV 

CHAPTER    XXVI11. 

SPEECH-MAKING. 

Nat's  position  —  worked  for  it — bobbin  boy  father  of  the  orator  — 
so  with  other  men  —  Sir  James  Mackintosh  —  Audubon  —  Ben- 
jamin West  —  Eli  Whitney,  and  what  his  sister  said  —  poem  of 
Longfellow  —  interest  in  politics  —  urged  to  address  political 
bodies  —  conversation  with  Charlie  —  decides  to  speak  —  does  so 
at  home  and  abroad  —  the  adventure  of  a  political  committee,  and 
a  good  joke  —  Nat's  speech  and  their  arrangement  .     .     287-297 


CHAPTER    XXIX. 

THE    EARLY    VICTIM. 

News  that  James  Cole  is  frozen  —  Frank's  version  of  the  affair  — 
made  drunk  at  a  grog-shop  —  lay  senseless  in  the  street  all  night 

—  his  previous  character  —  his  good  abilities  —  all  sorts  of  rumors 
abroad  —  he  revives,  but  is  still  very  sick  —  what  the  physician 
says  —  nearly  three  months  pass  —  a  funeral  described  —  the  last 
of  James  Cole  —  the  sexton's  view  —  the  youthful  drunkard's 
grave 298-304 

CHAPTER    XXX. 

THE   END. 

A  quarter  of  a  century  passed  —  what  and  where  is  Nat  and  his 
associates  — the  drunkard  — Sam  and  Ben  Drake  in  prison  — 
power  of  early  vicious  habits  —  Frank  Martin  at  the  head  of  a 
public  institution  —  Charlie  Stone  agent  of  one  of  the  wealthiest 
and  best  known  manufacturing  companies  of  New  England  — 
Marcus  Treat  a  highly  distinguished  lawyer  in  his  adopted  State 

—  Nat  governor  of  the  best  State  in  the  Union  —  the  change  — 
appeal  to  youth  .•••••«•••••••    305-310 


CHAPTER    I. 

A   GOOD   BEGINNING. 

A  LITTLE  patch  of  ground  enclosed  by  a  fence, 
a  few  adjacent  trees,  Nat  with  his  hoe  in  hand, 
his  father  giving  directions,  on  one  of  the  brightest- 
May  mornings  that  was  ever  greeted  by  the  carol 
of  birds,  are  the  scenes  that  open  to  our  view. 

"  There,  Nat,  if  you  plant  and  hoe  your  squashes 
with  care,  you  will  raise  a  nice  parcel  of  them  on 
this  piece  of  ground.     It  is  good  soil  for  squashes. " 

"  How  many  seeds  shall  I  put  into  a  hill  ?  "  in- 
quired Nat. 

"  Seven  or  eight.  It  is  well  to  put  in  enough,  as 
some  of  them  may  not  come  up,  and  when  they  get 
to  growing  well,  pull  up  all  but  four  in  a  hill.  You 
must  not  have  your  hills  too  near  together,  —  they 
should  be  five  feet  apart,  and  then  the  vines  will 
cover  the  ground  all  over.  I  should  think  there 
would  be  room  for  fifty  hills  on  this  patch  of 
ground." 

1  en 


2  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

"  How  many  squashes  do  you  think  I  shall  raise, 
father?" 

"  Well,"  said  his  father,  smiling,  "  that  is  har$ 
telling.  We  won't  count  the  chickens  before  they 
are  hatched.  But  if  you  are  industrious,  and  take 
very  good  care  indeed  of. your  vines,  stir  the  ground 
often  and  keep  out  all  the  weeds,  and  kill  the  bugs, 
I  have  little  doubt  that  you  will  get  well  paid  for 
your  labor." 

"  If  I  have  fifty  hills,"  said  Nat,  "  and  four  vines 
in  each  hill,  I  shall  have  two  hundred  vines  in  all ; 
and  if  there  is  one  squash  on  each  vine,  there  will 
be  two  hundred  squashes." 

"  Yes  ;  but  there  are  so  many  ifs  about  it  that 
you  may  be  disappointed  after  all.  Perhaps  the 
bugs  will  destroy  half  your  vines." 

"  I  can  kill  the  bugs,"  said  Nat. 

"  Perhaps  dry  weather  will  wither  them  all  up." 

"  I  can  water  them  every  day  if  they  need  it." 

"  That  is  certainly  having  good  courage,  Nat," 
added  his  father,  "  but  if  you  conquer  the  bugs, 
and  get  around  the  dry  weather,  it  may  be  too  wet 
and  blast  your  vines,  or  there  may  be  such  a  hail 
storm  as  I  have  known  several  times  in  my  life,  and 
cut  them  to  pieces." 

"  I  don't  think  there  will  be  such  a  hail  storm 
this  year ;  there  never  was  one  like  it  since  I  can 
remember." 

"  I  hope  there  won't  be,"  replied  his  father.     "  It 


A   GOOD   BEGINNING.  6 

is  well  to  look  on  the  bright  side,  and  hope  for  the, 
best,  for  it  keeps  the  courage  up.  It  is  also  well  to 
look  out  for  disappointment.  I  know  a  gentleman 
who  thought  he  would  raise  some  ducks.  So  he 
obtained  a  dozen  eggs,  and  put  them  under  a  hen, 
and  then  he  hired  a  man  to  make  a  small  artificial 
pond  in  his  garden,  which  he  could  fill  from  his 
well,  for  the  young  ducks  to  swim  in.  The  time 
came  for  the  ducks  to  appear,  but  not  one  of 
the  eggs  hatched,  and  it  caused  much  merriment 
among  the  neighbors,  and  the  man  has  never  heard 
the  last  of  counting-  ducks  before  they  are  hatched. 
I  have  heard  people  in  the  streets  and  stores  say, 
when  some  one  was  undertaking  a  doubtful  enter- 
prise, 4  he  is  counting  ducks.'  Now,  possibly, 
your  squashes  may  turn  out  like  the  gentleman's 
ducks,  though  I  do  not  really  think  it  will  be  so. 
I  speak  of  it  that  you  may  think  of  these  things." 

A  sly  sort  of  smile  played  over  Nat's  expressive 
countenance  at  this  mention  of  the  ducks,  but  it 
did  not  shake  his  confidence  in  the  art  of  raising 
squashes.  He  had  become  a  thorough  believer  in 
squashes,  —  they  were  now  a  part  of  his  creed. 
He  could  see  them  on  the  vines  before  the  seeds 
were  planted.  Some  of  them  were  very  large, — 
as  big  as  a  water-pail,  and  his  glowing  imagination 
set  him  to  work  already,  rolling  them  into  a  wheel- 
barrow. He  cared  little  for  the  bugs,  though  they 
should  come  in  a  great  army,  he  could  conquer 
them,  infantry,  artillery,  and  all. 


4  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

This  scene  was  enacted  about  thirty-five  years  ago, 
not  a  thousand  miles  from  Boston,  when  Nat  was 
about  ten  years  old,  a  bright,  active,  energetic,  effi- 
cient, hopeful  little  fellow.  His  father  gave  him 
the  use  of  a  piece  of  ground  for  raising  squashes, 
and  the  boy  was  to  have  the  proceeds  of  the  crop 
with  which  to  line  his  new  purse.  Nat  was  wont 
to  look  on  the  bright  side  of  things,  and  it  was  gen- 
erally fair  weather  with  him.  For  this  reason,  he 
expected  a  good  crop  of  squashes,  notwithstanding 
his  father's  adverse  hints.  It  was  fortunate  for  him 
that  he  was  so  hopeful,  for  it  inspired  him  with 
zeal  and  earnestness,  and  made  him  more  success- 
ful than  he  otherwise  would  have  been.  All  hope- 
ful persons  are  not  successful,  but  nearly  all  the 
successful  ones,  in  the  various  callings  of  life,  were 
hopeful  from  the  beginning.  This  was  true  of  Na- 
thaniel Bowditch,  the  great  mathematician,  who 
was  a  poor  boy  when  he  commenced  his  studies. 
He  said  that  whenever  he  undertook  any  thing  "  it 
never  occurred  to  him  for  a  moment  that  he  could 
fail."  This  quality  thus  encouraged  him  to  press 
on  from  one  success  to  another.  Hence,  in  later 
life,  his  counsel  to  youth  was,  "  Never  undertake 
any  thing  but  with  the  feeling  that  you  can  and  will 
do  it.  With  that  feeling  success  is  certain,  and 
without  it  failure  is  unavoidable."  He  once  said 
that  it  had  been  an  invariable  rule  with  him,  "  to 
do  one  thing  at  a  time,  and  to  finish  whatever  he 


A   GOOD   BEGINNING.  O 

began."  The  same  was  true  of  Sir  Humphrey 
Davy.  His  biographer  says  that  he  never  made 
any  provision  for  failures,  "  that  he  undertook  every 
experiment  as  if  success  were  certain."  This  put 
life  and  soul  into  his  acts ;  for  when  a  man  believes 
that  he  shall  certainly  succeed  in  a  given  work,  his 
success  is  half  secured.  Grave  doubts  about  it 
diminish  energy,  and  relax  the  force  of  the  will. 
Buxton,  the  distinguished  English  philanthropist, 
is  another  example  of  this  quality.  He  was  just  as 
confident  that  his  efforts  in  behalf  of  the  oppressed 
would  succeed,  as  he  was  of  his  own  existence. 
He  knew  that  God  and  truth  were  on  his  side,  and 
therefore  he  expected  to  triumph,  —  and  he  did. 
We  shall  see  that  Nat  was  often  helped  by  his  hope- 
fulness. 

It  was  a  happy  day  to  Nat  when  he  saw  his 
squashes  coming  forth  to  seek  the  genial  light. 
Frank  Martin  was  with  him  when  the  discovery  was 
made,  and  it  brightened  Nat's  hope  considerably,  if 
it  be  possible  to  make  a  bright  thing  brighter. 

"  Here,  Frank,  they  are  coming.  There  is  one  — 
two  —  three  —  " 

"  Sure  enough,"  answered  Frank,  "  they  will  all 
show  themselves  soon.  You  will  raise  a  lot  of 
squashes  on  this  patch  of  ground.  You  will  have 
to  drive  a  team  to  Boston  market  to  carry  them) 
likely  as  not." 

"  I  hardly  think  father  expects  to  see  any 
squashes  of  my  raising,"  said  Nat. 


Q  THE   BOBBIN    BOY. 

"  Why  not  ?  "  inquired  Frank. 

"  Oh,  he  is  expecting  the  bugs  will  eat  them  up, 
or  that  it  will  be  too  wet  or  too  dry,  or  that  a  hail 
storm  will  cut  them  to  pieces,  or  something  else 
will  destroy  them  ;  I  hardly  know  what." 

"  You  will  fare  as  well  as  other  folks,  I  guess," 
added  Frank.  "  If  anybody  has  squashes  this 
year,  you  will  have  them  ;  I  am  certain  of  that. 
But  it  will  take  most  of  your  time  out  of  school  to 
hoe  them,  and  keep  the  weeds  out." 

"  I  don't  care  for  that,  though  I  think  I  can  take 
care  of  them  mornings  by  getting  up  early,  and  then 
I  can  play  after  school." 

"  Then  you  mean  to  play  some  yet  ?  " 

"  Of  course  I  do.  I  should  n't  be  a  boy  if  I  did  n't 
play,  though  father  says  I  shouldn't  believe  in  all 
play  and  no  work." 

"  You  don't.  If  you  work  in  the  morning  and 
play  at  night,  that  is  believing  in  both,  and  I  think 
it  is  about  fair." 

"  Ben  Drake  was  along  here  when  I  was  planting 
my  squashes,"  said  Nat,  "  and  he  told  me  that  I 
was  a  fool  to  worry  myself  over  a  lot  of  squash  vines, 
and  have  no  time  to  play.  He  said  he  would  n't  do 
it  for  a  cart-load  of  squashes." 

"  And  what  did  you  tell  him  ?  "  asked  Frank. 

"  I  told  him  that  father  thought  it  was  better  for 
boys  to  work  some,  and  form  the  habit  of  being  in- 
dustrious,   and  learn  li    w  to  do  things  ;    for  then 


A    GOOD    BEGINNING.  i 

they  would  be  more  successful  when  they  became 
men." 

"  What  did  Ben  say  to  that  ?  " 

"  '  Just  like  an  old  man  !  '  he  said.  *  It  is  time 
enough  to  work  when  we  get  to  be  men.  I  should 
like  to  see  myself  taking  care  of  a  garden  when  the 
other  boys  are  playing.'  By  this  time,"  continued 
Nat,  "  I  thought  I  would  put  in  a  word,  so  I  told 
him  that  it  would  be  good  for  him  to  work  part  of 
the  time,  and  I  had  heard  a  number  of  people 
say  so.  He  was  quite  angry  at  this,  and  said,  '  it 
was  nobody's  business,  he  should  work  when  he 
pleased.'  '  So  shall  I,'  I  replied,  '  and  I  please  to 
work  on  these  squashes  part  of  my  time,  whether 
Ben  Drake  thinks  well  of  it  or  not.'  " 

We  shall  see  hereafter  what  kind  of  a  boy  this 
Ben  was  (everybody  called  him  Ben  instead  of 
Benjamin),  and  what  kind  of  a  man  he  made. 

Nat  expressed  his  opinion  rather  bluntly,  although 
he  was  not  a  forward,  unmannerly  boy.  But  he 
usually  had  an  opinion  of  his  own,  and  was  rather 
distinguished  for  "  thinking  (as  a  person  said  of 
him  since)  on  his  own  hook."  When  he  was  only 
four  years  old,  and  was  learning  to  read  little  words 
of  two  letters,  he  came  across  one  about  which  he 
had  quite  a  dispute  with  his  teacher.     It  was  inn. 

"  What  is  that  ?  "  asked  his  teacher. 


"  I-double  n,"  he  answered. 
"  What  does  i-double  n  spell 


?» 


8  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

"  Tavern,"  was  his  quick  reply. 

The  teacher  smiled,  and  said,  "  No  ;  it  spells  inn. 
Now  read  it  again." 

"  I-double  n  —  tavern,"  said  he. 

"  I  told  you  that  it  did  not  spell  tavern,  it  spells 
inn.     Now  pronounce  it  correctly." 

"  It  do  spell  tavern,"  said  he. 

The  teacher  was  finally  obliged  to  give  it  up,  and 
let  him  enjoy  his  own  opinion.  She  probably  called 
him  obstinate,  although  there  was  nothing  of  the 
kind  about  him,  as  we  shall  see.  His  mother  took 
up  the  matter  at  home,  but  failed  to  convince  him 
that  i-double  n  did  not  spell  tavern.  It  was  not 
until  some  time  after,  that  he  changed  his  opinion 
on  this  important  subject. 

That  this  incident  was  no  evidence  of  obstinacy 
in  Nat,  but  only  of  a  disposition  to  think  "  on  his 
own  hook,"  is  evident  from  the  following  circum- 
stances. There  was  a  picture  of  a  public-house  in 
his  book  against  the  word  inn,  with  the  old-fashioned 
sign-post  in  front,  on  which  a  sign  was  swinging. 
Near  his  father's,  also,  stood  a  public-house,  which 
everybody  called  a  tavern,  with  a  tall  post  and  sign 
in  front  of  it,  exactly  like  that  in  his  book ;  and 
Nat  said  within  himself,  if  Mr.  Morse's  house  (the 
landlord)  is  a  tavern,  then  this  is  a  tavern  in  my 
book.  He  cared  little  how  it  was  spelled  ;  if  it  did 
not  spell  tavern,  "  it  ought  to"  he  thought.  Chil- 
dren believe  what  they  see,  more  than  what  they 


A   GOOD   BEGINNING.  V 

hear.  What  they  lack  in  reason  and  judgment, 
they  make  up  in  eyes.  So  Nat  had  seen  the  tavern 
near  his  father's  house,  again  and  again,  and  he 
had  stopped  to  look  at  the  sign  in  front  of  it  a  great 
many  times,  and  his  eyes  told  him  it  was  just  like 
that  in  the  book  ;  therefore  it  was  his  deliberate 
opinion  that  i-double  n  spelt  tavern,  and  he  was  not 
to  be  beaten  out  of  an  opinion  that  was  based  on 
such  clear  evidence.  It  was  a  good  sign  in  Nat. 
It  is  a  characteristic  of  nearly  every  person  who 
lives  to  make  a  mark  upon  the  world.  It  was  true 
of  the  three  men,  to  whom  we  have  just  referred, 
Bowditch,  Davy,  and  Buxton.  From  their  child- 
hood they  thought  for  themselves,  so  that  when 
they  became  men,  they  defended  their  opinions 
against  imposing  opposition.  True,  a  youth  must 
not  be  too  forward  in  advancing  his  ideas,  especially 
if  they  do  not  harmonize  with  those  of  older  per- 
sons. Self-esteem  and  self-confidence  should  be 
guarded  against.  Still,  in  avoiding  these  evils,  he 
is  not  obliged  to  believe  any  thing  just  because  he 
is  told  so.  It  is  better  for  him  to  understand  the 
reason  of  things,  and  believe  them  on  that  account. 

But  to  return  to  Ben  Drake.  To  Nat's  last  re- 
mark he  replied,  endeavoring  to  ridicule  him  for 
undertaking  an  enterprise  on  so  small  a  scale, 

"  If  I  was  going  to  work  at  all,  I  would  n't  putter 
over  a  few  hills  of  squashes,  I  can  tell  you.  It  is 
too  small  business.     I  'd  do  something  or  nothing.5' 


10  THE   EOBBIN   BOY. 

"  What  great  thing  would  you  do  ?  "  asked  Nat. 

"  I  would  go  into  a  store,  and  sell  goods  to  ladies 
and  gentlemen,  and  wear  nice  clothes.', 

"And  be  nothing  but  a  waiter  to  everybody 
for  awhile.  Fred  Jarvis  is  only  an  errand-boy 
in  Boston." 

"  I  know  that,  but  I  would  n't  be  a  waiter 
for  anybody,  and  do  the  sweeping,  making  fires, 
and  carrying  bundles  ;  I  don't  believe  in  '  nigger's ' 
work,  though  I  think  that  is  better  than  raising 
squashes." 

"I  don't  think  it  is  small  business  at  all  to  do 
what  Fred  Jarvis  is  doing,  or  to  raise  squashes," 
replied  Nat.  "I  didn't  speak  of  Fred  because  I 
thought  he  was  doing  something  beneath  him.  I 
think  that  '  niggers  '  work  is  better  than  laziness ;  " 
and  the  last  sentence  was  uttered  in  a  way  that 
seemed  rather  personal  to  Ben. 

"  Well,"  said  Ben,  as  he  cut  short  the  conversa- 
tion and  hurried  away,  "  if  you  wish  to  be  a  bug- 
killer  this  summer,  you  may  for  all  me,  I  shan't." 

Ben  belonged  to  a  class  of  boys  who  think  it  is 
beneath  their  dignity  to  do  some  necessary  and  use- 
ful work.  To  carry  bundles,  work  in  a  factory,  be 
nothing  but  a  farmer's  boy,  or  draw  a  hand-cart,  is 
a  compromise  of  dignity,  they  think.  Nat  belonged 
to  another  class,  who  despise  all  such  ridiculous 
notions.  He  was  willing  to  do  any  thing  that  was 
necessary,  though  some  people  might  think  it  was 


A    GOOD    BEGINNING.  11 

degrading.  He  did  not  feel  above  useful  employ- 
ment, on  the  farm,  or  in  the  workshop  and  factory. 
And  this  quality  was  a  great  help  to  him.  For  it  is 
cousin  to  that  hopefulness  which  he  possessed,  and 
brother  to  his  self-reliance  and  independence.  No 
man  ever  accomplished  much  who  was  afraid  of 
doing  work  beneath  his  dignity.  Dr.  Franklin  was 
nothing  but  a  soap-boiler  when  he  commenced  ; 
Roger  Sherman  was  only  a  cobbler,  and  kept  a 
book  by  his  side  on  the  bench  ;  Ben  Jonson  was  a 
mason,  and  worked  at  his  trade,  with  a  trowel  in 
one  hand  and  a  book  in  the  other  ;  John  Hunter, 
the  celebrated  physiologist,  was  once  a  carpenter, 
working  at  day  labor ;  John  Foster  was  a  weaver  in 
his  early  life,  and  so  was  Dr.  Livingstone,  the  mis- 
sionary traveller  ;  an  American  President  was  a 
hewer  of  wood  in  his  youth,  and  hence  he  replied 
to  a  person  who  asked  him  what  was  his  coat  of 
arms,  "  A  pair  of  shirt  sleeves  ;  "  Washington  was 
a  farmer's  boy,  not  ashamed  to  dirty  his  hands  in 
cultivating  the  soil ;  John  Opie,  the  renowned 
English  portrait  painter,  sawed  wood  for  a  living 
before  he  became  professor  of  painting  in  the  Royal 
Academy ;  and  hundreds  of  other  distinguished 
men  commenced  their  career  in  business  no  more 
respectable  ;  but  not  one  of  them  felt  that  dignity 
was  compromised  by  their  humble  vocation.  They 
believed  that  honor  crowned  all  the  various 
branches   of  industry,  however  discreditable  they 


12  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

might  appear  to  some,  and  that  disgrace  would 
eventually  attach  to  any  one  who  did  not  act  well 
his  part  in  the  most  popular  pursuit.  Like  them, 
Nat  was  never  troubled  with  mortification  on  ac- 
count of  his  poverty,  or  the  humble  work  he  was 
called  upon  to  do.  His  sympathies  were  rather 
inclined  in  the  other  direction,  and,  other  things 
being  equal,  the  sons  of  the  poor  and  humble  were 
full  as  likely  to  share  his  attentions. 

We  are  obliged  to  pass  over  much  that  belongs 
to  the  patch  of  squashes  —  the  many  hours  of  hard 
toil  that  it  cost  Nat  to  bring  the  plants  to  maturity, 
—  the  two-weeks'  battle  with  the  bugs  when  he 
showed  himself  a  thorough  Napoleon  to  conquer 
the  enemy,  —  the  spicy  compliments  he  received 
for  his  industry  and  success  in.  gardening,  — -  the 
patient  waiting  for  the  rain-drops  to  fall  in  dry 
weather,  and  for  the  sun  to  shine  forth  in  his  glory 
when  it  was  too  wet,  —  the  intimate  acquaintance 
he  cultivated  with  every  squash,  knowing  just  their 
number  and  size,  —  and  many  other  things  that 
show  the  boy. 

The  harvest  day  arrived,  —  the  squashes  were 
ripe, —  and  a  fine  parcel  of  them  there  was.  Nat 
was  satisfied  with  the  fruit  of  his  labor,  as  he 
gathered  them  for  the  market. 

"  What  a  pile  of  them !  "  exclaimed  Frank,  as 
he  came  over  to  see  the  squashes  after  school. 
"  You  are  a  capital  gardener,  Nat ;  I  don't  believe 
there  is  a  finer  lot  of  squashes  in  town." 


A   GOOD    BEGINNING.  13 

"  Father  says  the  bugs  and  dry  weather  could  n't 
hold  out  against  my  perseverance,"  added  Nat, 
laughing.     "  But  the  next  thing  is  to  sell  them." 

"  Are  you  going  to  carry  them  to  Boston  ?  "  asked 
Frank. 

"  No ;  I  shall  sell  them  in  the  village.  Next 
Saturday  afternoon  I  shall  try  my  luck." 

"  You  will  turn  peddler  then  ?  " 

"  Yes  ;  but  I  don't  think  I  shall  like  it  so  well  as 
raising  the  squashes.  There  is  real  satisfaction  in 
seeing  them  grow." 

"  If  you  can  peddle  as  well  as  you  can  garden  it, 
you  will  make  a  real  good  hand  at  it ;  and  such 
handsome  squashes  as  those  ought  to  go  off  like 
hot  cakes." 

Saturday  afternoon  came,  and  Nat  started  with 
his  little  cart  full  of  squashes.  He  was  obliged  to 
be  his  own  horse,  driver,  and  salesman,  in  which 
threefold  capacity  he  served  with  considerable  abil- 
ity. 

"Can  I  sell  you  some  squashes  to-day?"  said 
Nat  to  the  first  neighbor  on  whom  he  called. 

"  Squashes !  where  did  you  find  such  fine 
squashes  as  those  ? "  asked  the  neighbor,  coming 
up  to  the  cart,  and  viewing  the  contents. 

"  I  raised  them,"  said  Nat ;  "  and  I  have  a  good 
many  more  at  home." 

"What!  did  you  plant  and  hoe  them,  an  3  take 
the  whole  care  of  them  ?  " 


14  THE   BOBBIN    BOY. 

"  Yes,  sir ;  no  one  else  struck  a  hoe  into  them, 
and  I  am  to  have  all  the  money  they  bring." 

"  You  deserve  it,  Nat,  every  cent  of  it.  I  de- 
clare, you  beat  me  completely ;  for  the  bugs  eat 
mine  all  up,  so  that  I  did  not  raise  a  decent  squash. 
How  did  you  keep  the  bugs  off  ?  " 

"  I  killed  thousands  of  them,"  said  Nat.  "  In 
the  morning  before  I  went  to  school  I  looked  over 
the  vines  ;  when  I  came  home  at  noon  I  spent  a 
few  moments  in  killing  them,  and  again  at  night  I 
did  the  same.  They  troubled  me  only  about  two 
weeks." 

"  Well,  they  troubled  me  only  two  weeks,"  re- 
plied the  neighbor,  "  and  by  that  time  there  was 
nothing  left  for  them  to  trouble.  But  very  few 
boys  like  to  work  well  enough  to  do  what  you  have 
done,  and  very  few  have  the  patience  to  do  it 
either.  With  most  of  the  boys  it  is  all  play  and  no 
work.     But  what  do  you  ask  for  your  squashes  ?  " 

Nat  proceeded  to  answer ;  "  That  one  is  worth 
six  cents ;  such  a  one  as  that  eight ;  that  is  ten ; 
and  a  big  one  like  that  (holding  up  the  largest)  is 
fifteen." 

The  neighbor  expressed  his  approval  of  the  prices, 
and  bought  a  number  of  them,  for  which  he  paid 
him  the  money.  Nat  went  on  with  his  peddling 
tour,  calling  at  every  house  in  his  way ;  and  he 
met  with  very  good  success.  Just  as  he  turned  the 
corner  of  a  street  on  the  north  side  of  the  common, 
Ben  Drake  discovered  him,  and  shouted, 


A   GOOD   BEGINNING.  15 

"  Hurrah  for  the  squash-peddler !  That  is  tall 
business,  Nat ;  don't  you  feel  grand  ?  What  will 
you  take  for  your  horse  ?  " 

Nat  made  no  reply,  but  hastened  on  to  the  next 
house,  where  he  disposed  of  all  the  squashes  that 
he  carried  but  two.  He  soon  sold  them,  and  re- 
turned home  to  tell  the  story  of  his  first  peddling 
trip.  Once  or  twice  afterwards  he  went  on  the 
same  errand,  and  succeeded  very  well.  But  he  be- 
came weary  of  the  business,  for  some  reason,  before 
he  sold  all  the  squashes,  and  he  hit  upon  this  expe- 
dient to  finish  the  work. 

"  Sis,"  said  he  to  a  sister  younger  than  himself, 
"  I  will  give  you  one  of  my  pictures  for  every  squash 
you  will  sell.  You  can  carry  three  or  four  at  a 
time  easy  enough." 

Sis  accepted  the  proposition  with  a  good  deal  of 
pleasure ;  for  she  was  fond  of  drawings,  and  Nat 
had  some  very  pretty  ones.  He  possessed  a  natural 
taste  for  drawing,  and  he  had  quite  a  collection  of 
birds,  beasts,  houses,  trees,  and  other  objects,  drawn 
and  laid  away  carefully  in  a  box.  For  a  boy  of  his 
age,  he  was  really  quite  an  artist.  His  squashes 
were  not  better  than  his  drawings.  His  patience, 
perseverance,  industry,  and  self-reliance,  made  him 
successful  both  as  a  gardener  and  artist. 

In  a  few  days,  "  Sis"  had  sold  the  last  squash, 
and  received'  her  pay,  according  to  the  agreement. 
The  sequel  will  show  that  peddling  squashes  was 


16  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

the  only  enterprise  which  Nat  undertook  and  failed 
to  carry  through.  His  failure  there  is  quite  unac- 
countable, when  you  connect  it  with  every  other 
part  of  his  life. 

We  are  reminded  that  many  men  of  mark  com- 
menced their  career  by  peddling.  The  great  English 
merchant,  Samuel  Budgett,  when  he  was  about  ten 
years  old,  went  out  into  the  streets  to  sell  a  bird,  in 
order  that  he  might  get  some  funds  to  aid  his  poor 
mother.  The  first  money  that  Dr.  Kitto  obtained 
was  the  proceeds  of  the  sale  of  labels,  which  he 
made  and  peddled  from  shop  to  shop.  One  of  the 
wealthiest  men  we  know,  a  Christian  man  distin- 
guished for  his  large  benevolence,  commenced  his 
mercantile  career  by  peddling  goods  that  he  carried 
in  a  band-box  from  one  milliner's  shop  to  another. 
"  You  must  creep  before  you  can  walk,"  is  an  old 
maxim,  and  the  lives  of  all  distinguished  men  ver- 
ify the  proverb.  He  who  creeps  well,  will  walk 
so  much  the  better  by  and  by  ;  but  he  who  is 
ashamed  to  creep,  must  never  expect  to  walk.  We 
know  a  successful  merchant  who  commenced  the 
work  of  an  errand-boy  in  a  large  mercantile  house, 
when  he  was  about  twelve  years  old.  He  was  not 
mortified  to  be  caught  with  a  bundle  in  hand  in  the 
street,  nor  to  be  seen  sweeping  the  store.  Not  feel- 
ing above  his  business,  he  discharged  his  duties  as 
well  as  he  could.  When  he  swept  he  swept,  —  every 
nook   and    corner   was    thoroughly   cleaned    out. 


A    GOOD   BEGINNING.  17 

When  be  carried  a  bundle,  he  carried  it,  —  nimbly, 
manfully,  promptly,  and  politely  he  went  and  de- 
livered it.  He  performed  these  little  things  so  well 
that  he  was  soon  promoted  to  a  more  important 
post.  Here,  too,  lie  was  equally  faithful  and 
thorough,  and  his  employers  saw  that  he  possessed 
just  the  qualities  to  insure  success.  They  pro- 
moted him  again  ;  and  before  he  was  twenty  years 
old  he  was  the  head  clerk  of  the  establishment. 
He  was  not  much  past  his  majority  when  he  was 
admitted  as  a  partner  to  the  firm ;  and  now  he 
stands  at  the  head  of  the  well-known  house,  a  man 
of  affluence,  intelligence,  and  distinction.  Had  he 
been  ashamed  to  carry  a  bundle  or  sweep  a  store 
when  he  was  a  boy,  by  this  time  his  friends  would 
have  had  abundant  reason  to  be  ashamed  of  him. 

This  chapter  of  Nat's  early  experience  in  squash 
culture,  was  quite  unimportant  at  the  time.  It  is 
still  only  a  memorial  of  boyish  days ;  but  it  was  a 
good  beginning.  It  shows  as  clearly  as  the  most 
distinguished  service  he  afterwards  rendered  to  his 
fellow  men,  that  hopefulness,  industry,  persever- 
ance, economy  of  time,  self-reliance,  and  other 
valuable  traits,  were  elements  of  his  character. 


CHAPTER   II. 

UPWARD   AND    ONWARD. 

IT  WAS  winter,  —  about  three  months  after  the 
sale  of  the  squashes.  The  district  school  was 
in  progress,  and  a  male  teacher  presided  over  it. 

"  Scholars,"  said  the  teacher  one  day,  "  it  is  both 
pleasant  and  profitable  to  have  an  occasional  decla- 
mation and  dialogue  spoken  in  school.  It  will  add 
interest,  also,  to  our  spelling-school  exercises  in 
the  evening.  Now  who  would  like  to  participate  in 
these  exercises  ? " 

Nat  was  on  his  feet  in  a  moment ;  for  he  was  al- 
ways ready  to  declaim,  or  perform  his  part  of  a 
dialogue.  The  teacher  smiled  to  see  such  a  little 
fellow  respond  so  readily,  and  he  said  to  Nat, 

"  Did  you  ever  speak  a  piece  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir,  a  good  many  times." 

"  Do  you  like  to  declaim  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir,  and  speak  dialogues  too." 

"  What  piece  did  you  ever  speak  ?  " 

<18) 


UPWARD   AND   ONWARD.  19 

"  '  My  voice  is  still  for  war,'  "  replied  Nat. 

"  A  great  many  boys  have  spoken  that,"  added 
the  teacher,  amused  at  Nat's  hearty  approval  of  the 
plan. 

"  Will  you  select  a  piece  to-night,  and  show  it  to 
me  to-morrow  morning  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  Yes,  sir  ;  and  learn  it  too,"  answered  Nat. 

Only  four  or  five  scholars  responded  to  the  teach- 
er's proposition,  and  Frank  Martin  was  one,  Nat's 
"  right  hand  man"  in  all  studies  and  games.  The 
teacher  arranged  with  each  one  for  a  piece,  and  the 
school  was  dismissed.     As  soon  as  school  was  out, 

"  Frank,"  said  Nat,  "  will  you  speak  '  Alexan- 
der the  Great  and  a  Robber  '  with  me  ?  " 

"  Yes,  if  the  teacher  is  willing.  Which  part 
will  you  take  ?  " 

"  The  '  robber,'  if  you  are  willing  to  be  great 
Alexander." 

Frank  agreed  to  the  proposition,  and  as  the  dia- 
logue was  in  Pierpont's  First  Class  Book,  which 
was  used  in  school,  they  turned  to  it,  and  showed 
it  to  the  teacher  before  he  left  the  school-house. 
It  was  arranged  that  they  should  speak  it  on  the 
next  day,  provided  they  could  commit  it  in  so  short 
a  time. 

"  Going  to  speak  a  dialogue  to-morrow,"  said  Nat 
to  his  mother,  as  he  went  into  the  house. 

"  What  are  you  going  to  speak  ?  " 

"  Alexander  the  Great  and  a  Robber,"  replied 


20  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

Nat.  "  And  I  shall  be  the  robber,  and  Frank  will 
be  Alexander." 

"  Why  do  you  choose  to  be  the  robber  ? "  in- 
quired his  mother.  "  I  hope  you  have  no  inclina- 
tion that  way." 

"  I  like  that  part,"  replied  Nat,  "  because  the 
robber  shows  that  the  king  is  as  much  of  a  robber 
as  himself.  The  king  looks  down  upon  him  with 
scorn,  and  calls  him  a  robber  ;  and  then  the  robber 
tells  the  king  that  he  has  made  war  upon  people, 
and  robbed  them  of  their  property,  homes,  and 
wives  and  children,  so  that  he  is  a  worse  robber 
than  himself.  The  king  hardly  knows  what  to  say, 
and  the  last  thing  the  robber  says  to  him  is,  '  I 
believe  neither  you  nor  I  shall  ever  atone  to  the 
world  for  half  the  mischief  we  have  done  it.'  Then 
the  king  orders  his  chains  to  be  taken  off,  and  says, 
'  Are  we  then  so  much  alike  ?  Alexander  like  a 
robber  ? '  " 

"  That  is  a  very  good  reason,  I  think,  for  liking 
that  part,"  said  his  mother.  "  Many  people  do  not 
stop  to  think  that  the  great  can  be  guilty  of  crimes. 
They  honor  a  king  or  president  whether  he  has  any 
principle  or  not." 

"  That  is  what  I  like  to  see  exposed  in  the  dia- 
logue," said  Nat.  "  It  is  just  as  bad  for  a  king  to 
rob  a  person  of  all  he  has,  in  war,  as  it  is  for  a  rob- 
ber to  do  it  at  midnight." 

Nat  always  felt  svrongly  upon  this  point.     He 


UPWARD   AND    ONWARD.  21 

very  early  learned  that  rich  men,  and  those  occu- 
pying posts  of  honor,  were  thought  more  of  by 
many  people,  whether  they  were  deserving  or  not, 
and  it  seemed  to  him  wrong.  He  thought  that  one 
good  boy  ought  to  stand  just  as  high  as  another, 
though  his  parents  were  poor  and  humble,  and  that 
every  man  should  bear  the  guilt  of  his  own  deeds 
whether  he  be  king  or  servant.  Out  of  this  feeling 
grew  his  interest  in  the  aforesaid  dialogue,  and  he 
was  willing  to  take  the  place  of  the  robber  for  the 
sake  of  the  pleasure  of  "  showing  up  "  the  king.  It 
was  this  kind  of  feeling  that  caused  him  to  sympa- 
thize, even  when  a  boy,  with  objects  of  distress  and 
suffering,  —  to  look  with  pity  upon  those  who  ex- 
perienced misfortune,  or  suffered  reproach  unjustly. 
It  was  not  strange  that  he  became  a  professed  Dem- 
ocrat in  his  youth,  as  we  shall  see ;  for  how  could 
such  a  democratic  little  fellow  be  other  than  a  true 
Jeffersonian  Democrat  ? 

Nat's  part  of  the  dialogue  was  committed  on  that 
evening  before  eight  o'clock.  He  could  commit  a 
piece  very  quick,  for  he  learned  any  thing  easily. 
He  could  repeat  many  of  the  lessons  of  his  reading- 
book,  word  for  word.  His  class  had  read  them 
over  a  number  of  times,  so  that  he  could  repeat 
them  readily.  At  the  appointed  time,  on  the  next 
afternoon,  both  Nat  and  Frank  were  ready  to  per- 
form. 

"  I  have  the  pleasure  this  afternoon,"  said  the 


22  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

teacher,  "  to  announce  a  dialogue  by  two  of  the 
boys  who  volunteered  yesterday.  Now  if  they  shall 
say  it  without  being  prompted,  you  will  all  concede 
that  they  have  done  nobly  to  commit  it  so  quickly. 
Let  us  have  it  perfectly  still.  The  title  of  the  dia- 
logue is  '  Alexander  the  Great  and  a  Robber.'  Now 
boys,  we  are  ready." 

Frank  commenced  in  a  loud,  pompous,  defiant 
tone,  that  was  really  Alexander-like.  It  was  evi- 
dent from  the  time  he  uttered  the  first  sentence, 
that,  if  he  could  not  be  "  Alexander  the  Great,"  he 
could  be  Alexander  the  Little. 

Nat  responded,  and  performed  his  part  with  an 
earnestness  of  soul,  a  power  of  imitation,  and  a  de- 
gree of  eloquence  that  surprised  the  teacher.  The 
scholars  were  not  so  much  surprised  because  they 
had  heard  him  before,  but  it  was  the  first  time  the 
teacher  had  seen  him  perform. 

"  Very  well  done,"  said  the  teacher,  as  they  took 
their  seats.  "  There  could  not  be  much  improve- 
ment upon  that.  You  may  repeat  the  dialogue 
at  the  spelling-school  on  Friday  evening  ;  and  I 
hope  both  of  you  will  have  declamations  next 
week." 

"/will,  sir,"  said  Nat. 

The  teacher  found  a  reluctance  among  the  boys 
to  speak,  and  one  of  them  said  to  him, 

"  If  I  could  speak  as  well  as  Nat,  I  would  do  it." 

This  remark  caused  him  to  think  that  Nat's  su- 


UPWARD    AND   ONWARD.  23 

periority  in  these  rhetorical  exercises  might  dis* 
hearten  some  of  his  pupils ;  and  the  next  time  he 
introduced  the  subject  to  the  school,  he  took  occa- 
sion to  remark, 

"  Some  of  our  best  orators  were  very  poor  speak- 
ers when  they  began  to  declaim  in  boyhood.  It  is 
not  certain  that  a  lad  who  does  not  acquit  himself 
very  well  in  this  exercise  at  first,  will  not  make  a 
good  orator  at  last.  Demosthenes,  who  was  the 
most  gifted  orator  of  antiquity,  had  an  impediment 
in  his  speech  in  early  life.  But  he  determined  to 
overcome  it,  and  be  an  orator  in  spite  of  it.  He 
tried  various  expedients,  and  finally  went  to  a  cave 
daily,  on  the  sea-shore,  where,  with  pebble-stones  in 
his  mouth,  he  declaimed,  until  the  impediment  was 
removed.  By  patience  and  perseverance  he  be- 
came a  renowned  orator.  It  was  somewhat  so,  too, 
with  Daniel  Webster,  whom  you  all  know  as  the 
greatest  orator  of  our  land  and  times.  The  first 
time  he  went  upon  the  stage  to  speak,  he  was  so 
frightened  that  he  could  not  recall  the  first  line  of 
his  piece.  The  second  time  he  did  not  do  much 
better ;  and  it  was  not  until  he  had  made  several 
attempts,  that  he  was  able  to  get  through  a  piece 
tolerably  well.  But  a  strong  determination  and 
persevering  endeavors,  finally  gave  him  success." 

In  the  course  of  the  winter  Nat  spoke  a  number 
of  pieces,  among  which  were  "  Marco  Bozzaris," 
"  Speech  of  Catiline  before  the  Roman  Senate,  on 


24  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

Hearing  his  Sentence  of  Banishment,"  and  "  Dia- 
logue from  Macbeth,"  in  all  of  which  he  gained  him- 
self  honor.  His  taste  seemed  to  prefer  those  pieces 
in  which  strength  and  power  unite.  At  ten  and 
twelve  years  of  age,  he  selected  such  declamations 
and  dialogues  as  boys  generally  do  at  the  age  of 
sixteen  or  eighteen  years.  It  was  not  unusual  for 
the  teacher  to  say,  when  visitors  were  in  school, 

"  Come,  Master  [Nat],  can  you  give  us  a 

declamation?"  and  Nat  was  never  known  to  refuse 
He  always  had  one  at  his  tongue's  end,  whicb 
would  roll  off,  at  his  bidding,  as  easily  as  thread 
unwinds  from  a  spool. 

About  this  time  there  was  some  complaint  among 
the  scholars  in  Nat's  arithmetic  class,  and  Samuel 
Drake  persuaded  one  of  the  older  boys  to  write  a 
petition  to  the  teacher  for  shorter  lessons.  This 
Samuel  Drake  was  a  brother  of  Ben,  a  bad  boy,  as 
we  shall  see  hereafter,  known  in  the  community  as 
Sam.  When  the  petition  was  written,  Sam  signed 
it,  and  one  or  two  other  boys  did  the  same ;  but 
when  he  presented  it  to  Nat,  the  latter  said, 

"  What  should  I  sign  that  for  ?  The  lessons  are 
not  so  long  as  I  should  like  to  have  them.  Do  you 
study  them  any  in  the  evening  ?  " 

"  Study  in  the  evening !  "  exclaimed  Sam.  "  I 
am  not  so  big  a  fool  as  that.  It  is  bad  enough  to 
study  in  school." 

"  I  study  evenings,"  added  Nat,  "  and  you  are  as 


UPWARD   AND    ONWARD.  25 

able  to  study  as  I  am.  The  lessons  would  be  too 
long  for  me  if  I  didn't  study  any." 

"  And  so  you  don't  mean  to  sign  this  petition  ?  " 
inquired  Sam. 

"  Of  course  I  don't,"  replied  Nat.  "  If  the  les- 
sons are  not  too  long,  there  is  no  reason  why  I 
should  petition  to  have  them  shorter." 

"You  can  sign  it  for  our  sakes,"  pleaded  Sam. 

"  Not  if  I  think  you  had  better  study  them  as 
they  are." 

"  Go  to  grass  then,"  said  Sam,  becoming  angry, 
"  we  can  get  along  without  a  squash  peddler,  I  'd 
have  you  know.  You  think  you  are  of  mighty 
consequence,  and  after  you  have  killed  a  few  more 
bugs  perhaps  you  will  be." 

"  I  won't  sign  your  petition,"  said  Frank,  touched 
to  the  quick  by  this  abuse  of  Nat. 

"  Nor  I,"  exclaimed  Charlie  Stone,  another  inti- 
mate associate  of  Nat's, and  a  good  scholar  too. 

Nat  was  sensitive  to  ridicule  when  it  proceeded 
from  certain  persons,  but  he  did  not  care  much  for  it 
when  its  author  was  Sam  Drake,  a  boy  whom  every 
teacher  found  dull  and  troublesome.  He  replied, 
however,  in  a  pleasant  though  sarcastic  manner, 
addressing  his  remark  to  Frank  and  Charlie, 

"  Sam  is  so  brilliant  that  he  expects  to  get  along 
without  study.     He  will  be  governor  yet." 

Sam  did  not  relish  this  thrust  very  much,  but  be> 
fore  he  had  a  chance  to  reply,  Frank  added, 


26  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

"  I  suppose  you  will  make  a  speech,  Sam,  when 
you  present  your  petition."  All  laughed  heartily 
at  this  point,  and  turned  away,  leaving  Sam  to  bite 
his  lips  and  cogitate. 

Sam  was  certainly  in  a  predicament.  He  had 
several  signers  to  his  petition,  but  they  were  all  the 
lazy,  backward  scholars,  and  he  knew  it.  To  send 
a  petition  to  the  teacher  with  these  signatures  alone, 
he  knew  would  be  little  less  than  an  insult.  If 
Nat,  Frank,  and  Charlie,  would  have  signed  it,  he 
would  not  have  hesitated.  As  it  was,  he  did  not 
dare  to  present  it,  so  the  petition  movement  died 
because  it  could  n't  live. 

The  teacher,  however,  heard  of  the  movement, 
and  some  days  thereafter,  thinking  that  his  dull 
scholars  might  need  a  word  of  encouragement,  he 
embraced  a  favorable  opportunity  to  make  the  fol- 
lowing remarks :  — 

"  It  is  not  always  the  case  that  the  brightest 
scholars  in  boyhood  make  the  most  useful  or 
learned  men.  There  are  many  examples  of  dis- 
tinguished men,  who  were  very  backward  scholars 
in  youth.  The  great  philosopher  Newton  was  one 
of  the  dullest  scholars  in  school  when  he  was  twelve 
years  old.  Doctor  Isaac  Barrow  was  such  a  dull, 
pugnacious,  stupid  fellow,  that  his  father  was  heard 
to  say,  if  it  pleased  God  to  remove  any  one  of  his 
children  by  death,  he  hoped  it  would  be  Isaac.  The 
father  of  Doctor  Adam  Clarke,  the  commentator, 


UPWARD    AND    ONWARD.  27 

called  his  boy  '  a  grievous  dunce.'  Cortina,  a  re- 
nowned painter,  was  nicknamed,  by  his  associates, 
4  Ass'  Head,'  on  account  of  his  stupidity,  when  a 
boy.  When  the  mother  of  Sheridan  once  went 
with  him  to  the  school-room,  she  told  the  teacher 
that  he  was  '  an  incorrigible  dunce,'  and  the  latter 
was  soon  compelled  to  believe  her.  One  teacher 
sent  Chatterton  home  to  his  mother  as  '  a  fool  of 
whom  nothing  could  be  made.'  Napoleon  and 
Wellington  were  both  backward  scholars.  And  Sir 
Walter  Scott  was  named  the  '  The  Great  Block- 
head '  at  school.  But  some  of  these  men,  at  a  cer- 
tain period  of  youth,  changed  their  course  of  living, 
and  began  to  apply  themselves  with  great  earnest- 
ness and  assiduity  to  the  acquisition  of  knowledge, 
while  others,  though  naturally  dull,  improved  their 
opportunities  from  the  beginning,  and  all  became 
renowned.  No  one  of  them  advanced  without 
close  application.  It  was  by  their  own  persevering 
efforts  that  they  finally  triumphed  over  all  difficul- 
ties. So  it  must  be  with  yourselves.  The  dullest 
scholar  in  this  room  may  distinguish  himself  by  appli- 
cation and  dint  of  perseverance,  while  the  brightest 
may  fail  of  success,  by  wasting  his  time  and  trust- 
ing to  his  genius.  The  motto  of  every  youth 
should  be  i  upward  and  onward.'  " 


CHAPTER    III 


SATURDAY   AFTERNOON. 

HHHE  BRIGHT  summer-time  had  come  again, 
J-  when  the  sweet-scented  blossoms  beautified  the 
gardens,  and  the  forming  fruits  gave  promise  of  a 
rich  golden  harvest.  The  school-bell  sent  out  its 
merry  call  to  the  laughing  children,  and  scores  of 
them  daily  went  up  to  the  temple  of  knowledge  for 
improvement.  Saturday  afternoon  was  a  season  of 
recreation,  when  the  pupils,  released  from  school, 
engaged  in  various  sports,  or  performed  some  light 
labor  for  their  parents. 

On  a  certain  Saturday  afternoon,  Nat,  Charlie, 
Frank,  and  one  or  two  other  boys,  arranged  for 
a  "  good  time  "  at  the  house  of  one  of  the  number. 
They  were  all  there  promptly  at  the  appointed 
time,  together  with  Frank's  little  dog  Trip  —  a 
genuine  favorite  with  all  the  boys  who  had  any 
regard  for  dog-brightness  and  amiability. 

(28) 


SATURDAY    AFTERNOON.  23 

e~  Look  here,  Frank,  lias  Trip  forgot  how  to  play 
by-spy  ?  "  asked  Charlie. 

"  No ;  he  will  play  it  about  as  well  as  you  can. 
Let  us  try  it." 

"  You  can't  learn  him  to  touch  the  goal,  can 
you  ?  "  inquired  another  boy. 

"  No,"  replied  Frank ;  "  but  I  expect  he  will 
before  he  takes  his  degree.  He  is  nothing  but  a 
Freshman  now." 

"  Did  he  ever  petition  you  for  shorter  lessons  ?  " 
asked  Nat. 

Charlie  and  Frank  laughed  ;  for  they  thought 
of  Sam  Drake's  petition  at  the  winter  school. 

"  Never,"  answered  Frank ;  "  but  he  has  asked 
me  for  longer  ones  a  great  many  times.  He  never 
gets  enough  at  any  sport.  He  will  play  '  hide  and 
seek '  or  4  ball '  as  long  as  you  will  want  to  have 
him,  and  then  wag  his  tail  for  more." 

Trip  sat  by  looking  wistfully  up  into  his  little 
master's  face  as  if  he  perfectly  understood  the 
praise  that  was  lavished  upon  him,  and  was  pa- 
tiently waiting  to  give  an  exhibition  of  his  skill  in 
athletic  games. 

"  Let  us  try  his  skill,"  said  Charlie.  "  Come, 
Frank,  give  him  his  post." 

"  Here,  Trip,"  said  Frank,  "  come  here  ;  nice 
fellow,  —  does  want  to  play  '  hide  and  seek  ; '  so  he 
shall ; "  and  he  patted  him  on  his  head,  for  which 
kindness  Trip  voted  him  thanks  as  well  as  he  could. 


30  THE   BOBBIN    BOY. 

"  Now,  boys,  we  '11  all  run  and  hide,  and  Trip 
will  find  us  in  short  metre." 

Off  they  started,  some  round  the  barn  and 
house,,  and  some  over  the  wall,  while  Trip  stood 
wagging  his  tail,  in  the  spot  assigned  him.  At 
length  a  loud  shrill  "  whoop,"  "  whoop,"  "  whoop," 
one  after  another,  salute  i  Trip's  ears,  and  off  he 
ran  to  find  them.  Bounding  over  the  wall,  he 
came  right  upon  Charlie,  who  laughed  heartily  at 
the  result,  while  Trip  extended  his  researches 
round  the  barn,  where  he  discovered  Nat  under 
a  pile  of  boards,  and  one  or  two  of  the  other  boys. 
"When  they  all  returned  to  the  goal,  Trip  perceived 
that  his  master  was  not  found,  and  off  he  bounded 
a  second  time. 

"  Sure  enough,"  exclaimed  Charlie,  "  he  knows 
that  Frank  is  not  here,  and  he  has  gone  to  find 
him.     Is  n't  he  a  knowing  dog  ?  " 

"  I  don't  believe  he  will  find  him,"  said  Nat, 
"  for  he  is  up  on  a  beam  in  the  shed." 

Nat  had  scarcely  uttered  these  words,  before  a 
shout  from  Frank  and  a  bark  from  Trip  announced 
that  the  former  was  discovered. 

"There,"  said  Frank,  as  he  came  up  to  the  goal 
with  Trip  skipping  and  jumping  at  his  side, 
"  was  n't  that  well  done  ?  I  told  you  he  would 
find  you,  and  none  of  us  could  do  it  quicker." 

"  Let  us  try  it  again,"  said  one  of  the  boys,  "  I 
guess  I'll  puzzle  him  this  time." 


SATURDAY   AFTERNOON.  31 

Again  they  all  sought  hiding-places,  while  Trip 
waited  at  the  goal  for  the  well-known  signal — - 
"  whoop  ;  "  "  whoop  ;  "  "  whoop.''  None  of  the 
boys  knew  the  meaning  of  this  better  than  he, 
although  he  was  only  a  dog. 

Soon  the  signal  was  given,  and  away  went  Trip 
in  high  glee.  Over  the  wall  —  around  the  barn  — ■ 
into  the  shed  —  back  of  the  house  —  behind  the 
woodpile  —  under  the  boards  —  here  and  there  — 
he  ran  until  every  boy  was  found.  Again  and 
again  the  experiment  was  tried,  and  Trip  won 
fresh  laurels  every  time. 

"  You  've  torn  your  pants,  Nat,"  said  Frank. 

"  I  know  it.  I  did  it  getting  over  the  fence. 
I  have  n't  done  such  a  thing  before,  I  don't  know 
when." 

While  exhausting  "  hy-spy"  of  its  fun,  Sylvester 
Jones  came  along  with  a  bit  of  news. 

"  Going  to  court,  Nat  ?  "  he  inquired. 

"  Going  where?"  replied  Nat,  not  understanding 
him. 

"  To  court !  They  have  taken  up  Harry  Gould 
and  Tom  Ryder,  and  the  court  is  coming  off  at  the 
hall." 

"  What  have  they  taken  Harry  and  Tom  for  ?  " 
asked  Nat,  becoming  deeply  interested  in  the  event. 

"  I  don't  know  exactly  ;  but  it  is  something  about 
disturbing  the  exhibition." 

The  facts  in  the  case  were  these.     There  was  an 


82  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

exhibition  in  the  hall  owned  by  the  manufacturing 
company,  and  these  two  boys  climbed  up  on  the 
piazza  and  looked  into  the  window,  thereby  dis- 
turbing the  exercises.  An  action  was  brought 
against  them,  and  they  were  to  bo  tried  before  a 
justice  of  the  town. 

"  It  is  too  bad,"  replied  Nat,  "  to  take  up  such 
little  boys  for  that  —  they  did  n't  know  any  better. 
What  will  be  done  with  them,  do  you  expect  ?  " 

"  Perhaps  they  will  send  them  to  jail.  Father 
says  it  is  a  serious  matter  to  disturb  a  meeting  of 
any  kind." 

"  Yes,"  replied  Nat,  "  it  is  a  mean  act  in  any- 
body, but  I  don't  believe  that  Harry  and  Tom  un- 
derstood it.  It  will  be  too  bad  to  send  them  to 
prison  for  that.  Perhaps  they  would  never  do  such 
a  thing  again." 

"  Come,"  added  Sylvester,  "  let  us  go  to  the  trial 
and  see.     They  have  begun  before  this  time." 

Nat's  sympathies  were  intensely  wrought  upon 
by  these  tidings ;  for  Harry  and  Tom  were  among 
his  school-fellows.  The  idea  of  trying  such  little 
boys  in  a  court  of  justice  excited  him  very  much. 
He  forgot  all  about  the  games  projected  and  the 
rent  in  his  pantaloons,  and  seizing  his  cap,  he  said 
to  Frank, 

«  Will  you  go  ?" 

"  Yes,  I  've  played  about  enough,"  answered 
Frank.     "  I  would  like  to  go  to  a  court." 


SATURDAY    AFTERNOON.  33 

The  boys  hurried  away  to  the  hall ;  and  they 
found  that  the  court  had  opened,  and  that  the  room 
was  well  filled  with  people.  Nat  edged  his  way 
along  through  the  crowd  until  he  found  himself 
directly  in  front  of  the  table  where  the  justice  sat. 
Sure  enough,  there  the  two  young  prisoners  were, 
Harry  and  Tom,  looking  as  if  they  were  half  fright- 
ened out  of  their  wits.  How  Nat  pitied  them  !  It 
seemed  strange  to  him  that  men  could  deal  thus 
with  boys  so  small.  He  listened  to  the  examination 
of  witnesses  with  great  emotion,  and  watched  Harry 
and  Tom  so  closely  that  he  could  read  their  very 
thoughts.  He  knew  just  how  badly  they  felt,  and 
that  if  they  could  get  clear  this  time,  they  never 
would  be  caught  in  such  wrong-doing  again. 

"  Were  you  present  at  the  exhibition  ?  "  inquired 
the  justice  of  one  of  the  witnesses. 

"  I  was,"  he  answered. 

"  Did  the  prisoners  disturb  the  exercise  ?  " 

"  They  did." 

"  How  do  you  know  that  Harry  and  Tom  were 
the  boys  ? " 

"  Because  I  went  out  to  send  them  away,  and 
found  them  on  the  piazza." 

"  Did  you  speak  to  them,  and  call  them  by  name, 
so  that  you  could  not  be  mistaken  ?  " 

"  I  did,  and  they  responded  to  their  names." 

"  Then  you  can  swear  that  these  two  boys,  the 
prisoners,  disturbed  the  meeting  ?  " 


84  THE   BOBBIN    BOY. 

"  Yes,  I  am  positive  of  it." 

Two  or  three  other  witnesses  were  examined, 
when  the  justice  said, 

"  It  appears  to  be  a  clear  case,  boys,  that  you  are 
guilty  of  the  charges  alleged  against  you.  You  are 
very  young  to  begin  to  disturb  the  public  peace. 
Even  if  it  was  nothing  but  thoughtlessness,  boys  are 
getting  to  be  so  rude,  that  it  is  high  time  some 
check  was  put  upon  their  mischief.  Now,  boys, 
have  you  any  thing  to  say  for  yourselves  ?  " 

Harry  and  Tom  were  more  frightened  than  ever, 
and  Nat  could  see  them  struggle  to  keep  from  cry- 
ing outright. 

"  Have  you  any  one  to  speak  for  you  ?  "  asked 
the  justice. 

Nat  could  withstand  it  no  longer,  and  he  stepped 
forward,  with  his  cap  in  his  hand,  his  bright  eyes 
beaming  with  sympathy  for  the  prisoners,  and 
said, 

"  Please,  sir,  I  will  speak  for  them,  if  you  are 
willing,"  and  without  waiting  for  the  justice  to 
reply,  he  proceeded : 

"  Harry  and  Tom  would  never  do  the  like  again. 
They  knew  it  was  wrong  for  them  to  disturb  the 
exhibition,  but  they  did  n't  think.  They  will  think 
next  time.  I  know  they  feel  sorry  now  for  what 
they  have  done,  and  will  try  to  be  good  boys  here- 
after. Can  you  not  try  them,  if  they  will  promise  ? 
This  is  the  first  time  they  have  done  so,  and  they 


SATURDAY   AFTERNOON.  85 

will  promise,  I  know  they  will  (turning  to  the  boys), 
won't  you,  Tom? " 

The  boys  both  nodded  assent,  and  the  justice 
looked  pleased,  astonished,  and  not  a  little  puz- 
zled. It  was  really  a  scene  for  the  artist,  Nat 
standing  before  the  court  with  cap  in  hand,  and 
his  pantaloons  torn  in  the  play  of  the  afternoon, 
his  heart  so  moved  with  pity  for  the  juvenile  of- 
fenders that  he  almost  forgot  where  he  was,  mak- 
ing a  touching  plea  for  the  boys,  as  if  their  des- 
tiny depended  upon  his  own  exertions.  The  hall 
was  so  still  that  the  fall  of  a  pin  might  be  heard 
while  Nat  was  pleading  the  case.  Everybody  was 
taken  by  surprise.  They  could  hardly  believe  their 
senses. 

"  Their  brother,"  answered  one  man,  in  reply  to 
the  inquiry,  "  Who  is  that  lad  ? "  He  did  not  know 
himself,  but  he  thought  that  possibly  a  brother 
might  plead  thus  for  them. 

The  justice  was  not  long  in  deciding  the  case, 
after  such  a  plea.  He  simply  reprimanded  the  two 
boys,  gave  them  some  wholesome  counsel,  and  dis- 
charged them,  much  to  the  gratification  of  Nat,  and 
many  others. 

"  That  was  the  youngest  lawyer  I  ever  heard 
plead  a  case,"  said  Mr.  Payson,  after  the  court  ad- 
journed. 

"  The  most  impudent  one,  /  think,"  replied  Mr. 
Sayles,  to  whom  the  remark  was  addressed.     "  If  I 


86  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

had  been  in  the  place  of  the  justice,  I  would  have 
kicked  him  out  of  the  hall.  Little  upstart !  to  come 
in  there,  and  presume  to  speak  in  behalf  of  two 
reckless  boys ! " 

"  You  misjudge  the  boy  entirely,  Mr.  Sayler. 
There  is  nothing  of  the  '  upstart '  about  Nat.  He 
is  a  good  boy,  a  good  scholar,  and  very  amiable  in- 
deed. The  neighbors  will  all  tell  you  so.  It  was 
his  sincere  pity  for  the  boys  that  led  him  to  plead 
for  them.  He  did  not  mean  to  conceal  their  guilt, 
but  he  thought,  as  I  do,  that  such  small  boys  better 
be  reproved  and  tried  again,  before  they  suffer  the 
penalty  of  the  law." 

"  I  hope  it  is  so,"  replied  Mr.  S. 

"  I  know  it  is  so,"  continued  Mr.  P.  "  Nat  is 
very  kind  and  sympathizing,  and  he  cannot  endure 
to  see  a  dog  abused.  It  might  seem  bold  and  un- 
mannerly for  him  to  address  the  court  as  he  did, 
but  Nat  is  not  such  a  boy.  He  is  very  mannerly 
for  one  of  his  age,  and  nothing  but  his  deep  pity 
for  Harry  and  Tom  induced  him  to  speak.  The 
act  has  elevated  him  considerably  in  my  estimation, 
though  I  thought  well  of  him  before." 

Mr.  Pay  son  took  the  right  view  of  the  matter. 
In  addition  to  his  sympathy  for  his  school-fellows, 
Nat  felt  that  it  was  hardly  right  to  take  those  little 
boys  before  a  court  for  the  offence  charged,  since 
they  were  not  vagrants,  and  were  not  known  as  bad 
boys.     If  Ben  and  Sam  Drake  had  been  there  in- 


SATURDAY   AFTERNOON.  37 

stead  of  Harry  and  Tom,  he  would  not  have  volun- 
teered a  plea  to  save  them  from  the  clutches  of  the 
law.  But  he  felt  that  it  was  dealing  too  severely 
with  them,  and  this  emboldened  him,  so  that  when 
he  witnessed  the  distress  of  the  boys,  and  saw 
them  try  to  conceal  their  emotions,  his  heart  over- 
flowed with  pity  for  them,  and  forced  him  to  speak. 
If  we  knew  nothing  more  of  Nat,  this  single  act 
would  lead  us  to  anticipate  that,  in  later  life,  he 
would  espouse  the  cause  of  the  oppressed  in  every 
land,  and  lift  his  voice  and  use  his  pen  in  defence 
of  human  rights.  At  the  age  of  ten  or  twelve 
years,  John  Howard,  the  philanthropist,  was  not 
distinguished  above  the  mass  of  boys  around  him, 
except  for  the  kindness  of  his  heart,  and  boyish 
deeds  of  benevolence.  It  was  so  with  Wilberforce, 
whose  efforts  in  the  cause  of  British  emancipation 
gave  him  a  world-wide  fame.  Every  form  of  suf- 
fering, misfortune,  or  injustice,  touched  his  young 
heart,  and  called  forth  some  expression  of  tender 
interest.  Carefully  he  would  lay  off  his  shoes  at 
the  door  of  a  sick  chamber,  and  often  divide  a 
small  coin,  received  as  a  present,  between  his  own 
wants  and  some  poor  child  or  man  he  chanced  to 
meet.  And  Buxton,  whose  self-sacrificing  spirit  in 
behalf  of  suffering  humanity  is  everywhere  known, 
was  early  observed  by  his  mother  to  sympathize 
with  the  down-trodden  and  unfortunate,  and  she 
sought  to  nurture  and  develop  this  feeling  as  a 


38  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

hopeful  element  of  character.  When  his  fame  was 
at  its  zenith,  he  wrote  to  his  mother,  "  I  constantly 
feel,  especially  in  action  and  exertion  for  others, 
the  effects  of  principles  early  implanted  by  you  in 
my  mind." 


CHAPTER    IT. 

THE    WILD    CHERRIES 

NAT,  CHARLIE,  and  Frank  planned  a  pleas- 
ure excursion  one  Saturday  afternoon,  when 
cherries  were  in  their  prime.  They  did  not  even 
think  of  the  cherries,  however,  when  they  planned 
the  trip.  They  thought  more  of  the  fields  and 
forests  through  which  they  proposed  to  go.  But 
just  at  this  point  one  of  their  associates  came  up, 
and  said, 

"  Let  us  go  over  beyond  Capt.  Pratt's  and  get 
some  cherries.  There  is  a  large  tree  there,  and 
it  hangs  full." 

"  Yes ;  and  have  the  owner  in  your  hair,"  an- 
swered Charlie. 

"  No,  no,"  replied  John,  the  name  of  the  boy 
who  made  the  proposition.  "  They  are  wild  cher- 
ries, a  half  a  mile  from  any  house,  and  of  course 
the  owner  considers  them  common  property.  I 
have  got  cherries  there  a  number  of  times." 

(39) 


40  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

"  That  is  no  evidence  you   did  n't  steal  them," 

said  Nat,  half  laughing. 

"  If  you  do  no  worse  stealing  than  that,"  an- 
swered John,  "you  will  not  be  sent  to  jail  this 
week." 

It  was  therefore  agreed,  that  the  cherry-tree 
should  be  visited,  even  if  they  allowed  the  cherries 
to  remain  unmolested.  Without  further  discussion 
they  proceeded  to  execute  their  purpose,  and  lost 
no  time  in  finding  the  famous  tree.  John's  glow- 
ing description  of  the  crop  had  caused  their  mouths 
to  water  long  before  they  came  in  sight  of  them. 

"John  is  hoaxing  us,"  said  Nat,  smiling," before 
they  were  half  way  there.  "  I  don't  believe  as 
good  cherries  as  he  tells  about  ever  grow  wild." 

"  Wait  and  see,"  responded  John.  "  If  you 
won't  believe  me,  I  guess  you  will  your  eyes.  Wild 
or  not  wild,  I  hardly  think  you  will  keep  your 
hands  off,  when  you  have  a  peak  at  them." 

"  I  tell  you  what  it  is,  Nat,"  said  Frank,  "  if  it 
should  turn  out  that  the  cherries  are  tame,  you 
might  not  get  off  so  easy  as  Harry  and  Tom  did 
for  disturbing  the  exhibition." 

"  I  should  n't  deserve  to,"  answered  Nat. 

The  conversation  kept  up  briskly  as  the  boys 
crossed  the  fields  and  scaled  the  walls  and  fences. 
At  length  they  came  in  sight  of  the  tree,  standing 
apart  from  any  garden,  nursery,  or  orchard,  a  full 
half  mile  from  the  nearest  house. 


THE   WILD   CHERRIES.  41 

"  There  it  is,"  said  John,  pointing  to  it.  "  It 
that  is  not  a  wild  cherry-tree,  then  no  tree  is 
wild." 

"  I  should  think  it  would  be  as  wild  as  the  beasts, 
so  far  from  any  house,"  added  Frank. 

They  were  surprised,  on  approaching  the  tree,  to 
find  it  loaded  with  cherries  of  so  nice  a  quality. 
Tiiey  were  much  larger  than  the  common  wild 
cherries,  a  sort  of  "  mazards,"  similar  to  the  kind 
that  is  cultivated  in  gardens. 

"  That  is  not  a  wild-cherry  tree,  I  know,"  said 
Charlie.  "  It  may  have  come  up  here,  but  the 
owner  of  this  land  would  never  fail  to  gather  such 
cherries  as  these.  They  would  sell  for  ninepence  a 
quart  in  the  village  as  quick  as  any  cherries." 

"  I  think  so  too,"  said  Nat ;  "  and  if  we  strip 
the  tree,  the  first  thing  we  shall  know,  the  constable 
will  have  us  up  for  stealing." 

"  Pshaw  !  "  exclaimed  John.  "  You  are  more 
scared  than  hurt.  I  don't  mean  that  these  cherries 
are  not  like  some  that  grow  in  gardens ;  but  the 
tree  came  up  here  of  itself —  nobody  ever  set  it  out 
—  and  so  it  is  wild  ;  and  why  are  not  the  cherries 
common  property  as  much  as  that  smaller  kind 
which  people  get  over  there  by  the  river  ?  " 

This  last  argument  of  John  was  more  convincing. 
All  the  boys  knew  that  anybody  gathered  the  com- 
mon wild  cherries  from  trees  that  grew  much  nearer 
dwelling-houses  than  this,  so  that  there  was  some 
force  in  John's  last  suggestion. 


42  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

"  If  John  is  right,"  added  Nat,  "  it  is  best  to  be 
on  the  safe  side,  and  ask  leave  of  the  owner.  If  he 
does  not  mean  to  pick  the  cherries,  he  will  be  will- 
ing that  we  should  have  them ;  and  if  he  does 
want  them,  he  will  put  us  into  the  lock-up  for  steal- 
ing them." 

"  Who  is  going  half  a  mile  to  find  the  owner  ?  " 
said  John,  "  and  then  perhaps  he  will  be  away  from 
home.  I  shall  not  run  my  legs  off  upon  any  such 
Tom  Fool's  errand.  If  you  are  a  mind  to  do  it,  I 
have  no  objections,  and  I  will  pick  the  cherries 
while  you  are  gone." 

The  matter  was  discussed  a  little  longer,  and 
finally  all  concluded  to  try  the  cherries.  It  re- 
quired a  pretty  forcible  argument  to  stand  against 
the  appeal  of  the  luscious  fruit  to  their  eyes.  Into 
the  tree  they  went,  and,  in  due  time  filled  their 
caps  with  the  tempting  fruit.  Having  loaded  their 
caps,  they  descended  and  set  them  on  the  ground 
under  the  tree,  and  then  returned  to  fill  their 
stomachs. 

"  Hark !  "  said  Frank  hurriedly,  "do  I  not  hear 
some  one  calling  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  answered  John,  from  the  top  of  the  tree, 
where  he  was  regaling  himself  with  the  dessert, 
"  true  as  I  am  alive,  there  is  the  owner  coming  full 
speed,  and  yelling  like  a  good  one.     Let  us  clear." 

They  all  dropped  upon  the  ground  instantly,  and 
bounded    over    the    nearest  wall  like   frightened 


THE   WILD   CHERRIES.  43 

sheep,  and  soon  were  seen  scampering  a  hundred 
rods  off. 

"  There,  now,  if  that  is  n't  smart,"  exclaimed 
Nat ;  "  we  've  left  our  caps  under  the  tree,  Frank." 

John  set  to  laughing  to  see  the  two  capless 
boys ;  and  he  was  more  inclined  to  laugh  because 
Charlie  and  himself  had  presence  of  mind  enough 
to  take  theirs. 

"  If  it  was  you,  John,  I  should  n't  care  a  snap," 
said  Frank.  "  You  led  the  way,  and  made  us  be- 
lieve that  they  were  wild  cherries,  and  I  wish  your 
cap  was  there." 

John  could  only  laugh,  in  reply,  at  his  bare- 
headed companions. 

"  I  don't  see  why  we  should  run  at  all,"  said  Nat, 
just  apprehending  the  folly  of  their  course.  "  We 
are  not  thieves,  —  we  did  n't  mean  to  steal.  We 
should  n't  have  taken  the  cherries  if  we  had  known 
the  owner  wanted  them." 

"  What  can  we  do  without  our  hats  ? "  asked 
Frank. 

"  I  shall  go  and  get  mine,"  answered  Nat,  "  and 
tell  the  man  just  as  it  was,  and,  if  he  is  reasonable 
he  will  overlook  it." 

"  I  am  beat  now,"  exclaimed  John  ;  "  the  old 
fellow  is  certainly  carrying  off  your  caps." 

The  boys  looked,  and  to  their  amazement,  the 
man  was  returning  to  his  house  with  the  caps.  Nat 
and  Frank  were  more  perplexed  than  ever. 


44  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

"Never  mind,"  said  John;  "you  are  both  big 
enough  to  go  bareheaded.  What  will  you  take  for 
your  caps  ?  "  and  again  he  laughed  at  their  predica- 
ment. 

"  What  shall  we  do  ?  "  inquired  Frank. 

"  Go  to  his  house  and  get  the  caps,  of  course," 
said  Nat.  "  The  caps  won't  come  to  us  that  is 
certain." 

"  What  will  you  tell  the  man  ?  " 

"  Tell  him  the  truth,"  replied  Nat,  "  and  it 
ought  to  get  our  caps,  and  shield  us  from  punish- 
ment." 

"  Perhaps  he  is  a  crabbed  fellow  who  will  show 
us  no  favors ;  and  he  will  say  that  our  running 
away  is  evidence  of  our  guilt." 

"We  were  fools  to  run,"  said  Nat;  "and  if  I 
had  stopped  to  think  one  moment  I  should  have 
stayed  there,  and  explained  it  to  him." 

Finally,  it  was  decided  that  Nat  and  Frank 
should  go  after  their  caps,  on  which  errand  they 
started  at  once,  while  John  and  Charlie  proceeded 
homeward.  In  the  mean  time  the  owner  of  the 
tree  had  reached  his  house  very  much  amused  at 
the  flight  of  the  capless  boys.  He  was  some- 
what angry  when  he  first  saw  the  boys  in  his  tree, 
but  the  possession  of  the  two  caps  well  filled  with 
cherries  modified  his  wrath  considerably.  It  would 
take  him  two  hours  to  pick  that  quantity  of  fruit. 
"  Surely,"  he  thought,  "  the  boys  have  beaten  the 
bush  and  I  have  caught  the  birds." 


THE   WILD    CHERRIES.  45 

"  You  must  go  to  the  door  aud  explain  it,"  said 
Frank  to  Nat. 

"  I  am  going  to,  and  convince  him  that  we  did 
did  not  mean  to  steal." 

Nat  gave  a  gentle  rap  at  the  door,  to  which  a 
lady  at  once  responded. 

"  Can  we  see  the  man  who  has  our  caps  ? "  in- 
quired Nat. 

"  I  will  see,"  she  replied  very  kindly,  and  stepped 
back  into  the  house  to  call  her  husband.  He  made 
his  appearance  promptly ;  and  looked  so  much 
more  pleasant  than  Nat  expected,  that  he  was  very 
much  emboldened. 

"  What  is  wanted,  boys  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  We  have  come,"  replied  Nat,  "  to  tell  how  it 
happened  that  we  got  your  cherries,  and  to  get  our 
caps." 

"  I  suppose  it  happened  very  much  as  it  does 
every  year  with  those  cherries,"  said  the  man, — 
"  the  boys  steal  them." 

"  No,  sir ;  I  think  I  can  convince  you  that  we 
did  not  mean  to  steal.  We  thought  they  were  wild 
cherries.  John  came  along  and  told  us  about  them, 
and  we  did  not  believe  they  were  wild.  Finally  we 
consented  to  go  and  see,  and  when  we  got  to  the 
tree,  we  told  him  that  the  owner  of  such  nice  cherries 
would  want  them,  and  I  told  him  that  the  best  way 
would  be  to  come  and  ask  you,  for  if  you  did  not 
want  them,  you  would  certainly  give  us  permission 


46  THE   BOBBJN    BOY. 

to  pick  them.  But  he  laughed  at  us,  and  said  the 
tree  was  much  further  from  any  house  than  the 
wild  cherries  that  any  person  gets  down  by  the  river, 
and  therefore  the  cherries  must  be  common  prop- 
erty. We  thought  he  was  right,  when  he  told  u? 
this,  and  so  we  went  up  into  the  tree." 

"  But  why  did  you  run  when  you  saw  me  com 
ing,  if  you  did  not  mean  to  steal  them  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  I  run,  sir,  because  I  did  not  stop  to  think.  I 
told  Frank,  as  soon  as  we  stopped  running,  that  we 
were  very  foolish,  because  we  did  not  mean  to  steal, 
and  I  was  sorry  that  we  did  run.  But  we  were  so 
surprised  when  we  saw  you  coming  that  we  ran  be- 
fore we  thought.  I  don't  think  we  did  right,  sir, 
though  we  did  not  mean  to  steal.  It  would  have 
been  better  for  us  to  have  come  and  asked  you  for 
the  cherries  as  I  told  John.  Now  we  would  like 
our  caps,  but  we  want  you  to  be  convinced  first  that 
we  are  not  thieves." 

"  I  am  convinced,"  replied  the  man.  u  I  guess 
you  mean  to  be  honest  boys,  and  you  shall  have 
your  caps." 

The  fact  was,  the  man  was  much  impressed  with 
the  sincerity  and  honesty  of  Nat  before  he  got  half 
through  his  explanation.  He  admired  his  frank- 
ness, and  his  manly,  straight-forward  way  of  telling 
his  story.  He  went  into  the  house  and  brought  out 
the  caps^  just  as  he  took  them  from  the  ground, 
full  of  cherries,  and  gave  them  caps,  cherries,  and 
all. 


THE   WILD    CHERRIES.  47 

"  You  don't  mean  we  shall  have  the  cherries,  do 
you  ?  "  inquired  Nat. 

"  Certainly,  you  have  worked  hard  enough  for 
them,"  he  replied.  "  And  I  like  to  see  boys  willing 
to  own  up  when  they  do  wrong.  I  don't  think 
you  meant  to  do  wrong ;  but  I  am  glad  to  see  you 
make  a  clean  breast  of  it,  and  not  be  so  mean  as  to 
equivocate,  and  lie,  to  get  out  of  a  scrape.  Boys 
always  fare  the  best  when  they  are  truthful,  and 
try  to  do  right." 

"  We  are  much  obliged  to  you,"  said  Nat.  "  You 
will  never  catch  us  on  your  cherry-tree  again  with- 
out permission." 

Having  pocketed  the  cherries,  they  put  on  their 
caps,  and  hastened  home,  quite  thoroughly  con- 
vinced that  all  cherries  which  grow  a  half  mile  from 
any  house  are  not  wild. 


CHAPTER    V. 

ATHLETIC    SPORTS. 

"  A     SWIM  to-night,"  shouted  John  to  Frank,  on 
-£*-  his  way  home  from  school.     "  All  hands  be 
there." 

"  Will  you  come,  Nat  ?  "  inquired  Frank. 

"Yes;  and  swim  three  rods  under  water,"  was 
Nat's  reply. 

At  this  period  of  Nat's  boyhood,  there  was  almost 
a  passion  among  the  boys  for  athletic  sports,  such 
as  swimming,  jumping,  running,  ball-playing,  and 
kindred  amusements.  For  some  time  they  had  re- 
ceived special  attention,  and  no  one  of  the  boys  en- 
joyed them  more  than  Nat.  It  was  one  of  the 
principles  on  which  he  lived,  to  do  with  all  his  heart 
whatever  he  undertook.  In  the  school-room,  he 
studied  with  a  keen  relish  for  knowledge,  and  on 
the  play-ground  he  played  with  equal  gusto.  If  he 
had  work  to  do  it  was  attended  to  at  once,  and 
thoroughly  finished  in  the  shortest  possible  time. 
In  this  way  he  engaged  in  athletic  sports. 

(48) 


ATHLETIC   SPORTS.  49 

An  hour  before  sunset,  a  dozen  or  more  boys 
were  at  "  the  bathing  place." 

"  Now,  Nat,  for  your  three  rods  under  water," 
said  Prank.  "  If  I  was  half  as  long-winded  as  you 
are,  I  should  keep  company  with  the  fishes  pretty 
often." 

"  He  swam  more  than  three  rods  under  water  the 
other  day,"  said  Charlie.  "I  shouldn't  want  to 
risk  myself  so  long  out  of  sight.  Suppose  the 
cramp  should  seize  you,  Nat,  I  guess  you  'd  like  to 
see  the  dry  land." 

"  You  must  remember,"  suggested  John,  who 
was  usually  ready  to  turn  things  over,  and  look  at 
the  funny  side,  "  that  doctors  won't  wade  into  the 
water  after  their  patients." 

One  after  another  the  boys  plunged  into  the  wa- 
ter, as  if  it  were  their  native  element.  Most  of 
them  had  practised  swimming,  diving,  and  other 
feats,  until  they  were  adepts  in  these  water-arts. 
Some  of  them  could  swim  a  surprising  distance,  and 
feared  not  to  venture  a  long  way  from  the  shore. 
Frank  was  very  skilful  in  performing  these  water 
feats,  but  even  he  could  not  equal  Nat. 

"  Now  for  a  swim  under  water,"  exclaimed  Nat, 
as  he  disappeared  from  the  view  of  his  companions. 
All  stopped  their  sports  to  watch  Nat,  and  see  where 
he  would  make  his  appearance.  Not  a  word  was 
spoken  as  they  gazed  with  breathless  interest,  and 
waited  to  see  him  rise. 
4 


50  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

"  He 's  drowned,"  cried  one  of  the  boys. 

"  No,  no,"  responded  Frank.  "  We  shall  see 
him  in  a  moment,"  and  yet  Frank  began  to  fear. 

"  I  tell  you  he  is  drowned,"  shouted  John,  much 
excited.  By  this  time  there  was  a  good  deal  of  con- 
sternation among  the  boys,  and  some  of  them  were 
running  out  of  the  water.  A  man  who  was  watch- 
ing on  the  shore,  was  actually  stripping  his  coat  off 
to  make  a  plunge  for  Nat,  when  up  he  came. 

"  He  is  safe,"  shouted  half  a  dozen  voices,  and 
the  welkin  rang  with  cheer  after  cheer. 

"  There,  young  man,  better  not  try  that  again," 
said  the  gentleman  on  the  shore,  as  Nat  swum 
around  in  that  direction. 

"  That  was  more  than  three  rods,"  said  Frank. 

"  And  more  than  four,"  added  Charlie.  "  You 
beat  yourself  this  time,  Nat.  You  never  swam  so 
far  under  water  before.  We  thought  you  were 
drowned." 

"  There  is  no  use  in  trying  to  beat  you"  con- 
tinued Frank.  "  If  you  had  gills  you  would  be  a 
regular  fish." 

Everybody  in  the  village  heard  of  Nat's  swim- 
ming feats  under  water,  as  well  as  on  the  water, 
and  it  was  not  unusual  for  spectators  to  assemble 
on  the  shore,  when  they  knew  that  he  was  going  to 
bathe. 

Not  far  from  this  time,  a  little  later  in  the  year 
perhaps,  there  was  to  be  a  special  game  of  ball  on 


ATHLETIC    SPORTS.  51 

Saturday  afternoon.  Ball-playing  was  one  of  the 
favorite  games  with  the  boys,  and  some  of  them 
were  remarkable  players.  When  the  time  arrived 
it  was  decided  that  John  and  Charlie  should  choose 
sides,  and  it  fell  to  the  latter  to  make  the  first 
choice. 

"  I  choose  Nat,"  said  he. 

"I'll  take  Frank,"  said  John. 

It  was  usually  the  case  that  Nat  and  Frank 
were  pitted  against  each  other  in  this  amuse- 
ment. Nat  was  considered  the  best  player,  so  that 
he  was  usually  the  first  choice.  Frank  stood  next, 
so  that  he  was  the  second  choice.  In  this  way  they 
generally  found  themselves  playing  against  each 
other.     It  was  so  on  this  occasion. 

The  game  commenced,  and  John's  side  had  the 
"  ins." 

"  You  must  catch,"  said  Charlie  to  Nat.  It  was 
usually  Nat's  part  to  catch. 

"  And  you  must  throw,"  responded  Nat.  "  I  can 
catch  your  balls  best." 

The  very  first  ball  that  was  thrown,  John  missed, 
though  he  struck  with  a  well-aimed  blow,  as  he 
thought,  and  Nat  caught  it. 

"  That  is  too  bad,"  was  the  exclamation  heard  on 
one  side,  and  "  good,"  "  capital,"  on  the  other. 

Charlie  took  the  bat,  and  was  fortunate  in  hitting 
the  ball  the  first  time  he  struck.  Now  it  was  Nat's 
turn,  and,  with  bat  in  hand,  he  took  his  place. 


52  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

"  Be  sure 'and  hit,"  said  Charlie. 

"  I  should  like  to  see  a  ball  go  by  him  without 
getting  a  rap,"  answered  Frank,  who  was  now  the 
catcher.  "  The  ball  always  seems  to  think  it  is  no 
use  to  try  to  pass  him." 

"  There,  take  that,"  said  Nat,  as  he  sent  the  ball, 
at  his  first  bat,  over  the  heads  of  all,  so  far  that  he 
had  time  to  run  round  the  whole  circle  of  goals, 
turning  a  somerset  as  he  came  in. 

"  A  good  beginning,  Nat ;  let  us  see  you  do  that 
again,"  said  Frank. 

"  When  the  time  comes  I  '11  give  you  a  chance," 
replied  Nat. 

We  will  not  follow  the  game  further,  but  simply 
say  that,  before  it  was  half  through,  quite  a  number 
of  men,  old  and  young,  were  attracted  to  the  place 
by  the  sport. 

"  What  a  fine  player  for  so  young  a  boy,"  said 
one  bystander  to  another,  as  Nat  added  one  after 
another  to  the  tallies. 

"  Yes ;  no  one  can  excel  him ;  he  never  plays 
second  fiddle  to  anybody.  He  will  run  faster, 
catch  better,  and  hit  the  ball  more  times  in  ten, 
than  any  other  boy.  I  saw  him  jump  the  other 
day,  and  he  surpassed  any  thing  I  have  seen  of  his 
age." 

"  If  that  is  not  all  he  is  good  for,  it  is  well 
enough,"  replied  the  other. 

"  He  is  just  as  good  at  studying  or  working,  as  he 


ATHLETIC    SPORTS.  53 

is  at  playing  ball ;  it  seems  to  be  a  principle  with 
him  to  be  the  best  in  whatever  he  undertakes.  I 
was  amused  at  his  reply  to  one  of  the  neighbors, 
who  asked  him  how  he  managed  to  swim  better 
than  any  one  else.  '  It  is  just  as  easy  to  swim  well 
as  poorly,'  said  he,  and  there  is  a  good  deal  of  truth 
in  the  remark.  At  another  time  he  said,  i  one 
might  as  well  run  fast  as  slow.'  " 

"  Does  he  appear  to  glory  in  his  feats  ?  " 
"  Not  at  all.  He  does  not  seem  to  think  there 
is  much  credit  in  being  the  best  at  these  games. 
One  of  the  boys  said  to  him  one  day,  '  Nat,  you  al- 
ways get  all  the  glory  in  our  games.'  He  replied, 
6 1  don't  think  there  is  much  glory  in  playing  ball 
well.  If  that  is  all  a  person  is  good  for,  he  is  not 
good  for  much.'  He  has  very  good  ideas  about 
such  things," 

This  was  really  a  correct  view  of  Nat's  case.  He 
enjoyed  athletic  sports  as  much  as  any  of  the  boys, 
and  yet  he  actually  felt  that  it  was  no  particular 
credit  to  him  to  be  a  good  swimmer,  jumper,  run- 
ner, or  ball-player.  He  did  not  study  to  excel 
therein  because  he  thought  it  was  honorable  to 
beat  every  other  boy  in  these  things.  But  what 
he  did,  he  did  with  all  his  soul,  and  this  is  neces- 
sary to  success.  He  had  confidence  in  his  ability 
to  succeed  in  what  he  undertook.  When  he  first 
went  into  the  water,  he  knew  he  could  learn  to 
swim.     When  he  took  his  stand  to  catch  the  ball, 


54  THE   BOBBIN  BOY. 

he  knew  he  could  catch  it.  Others  did  these  tilings, 
and  he  could  see  no  reason  why  he  could  not.  He 
seemed  to  feel  as  one  of  the  Rothschilds  did,  who 
said,  "  I  can  do  what  another  man  can."  The 
same  elements  of  character  caused  him  to  excel 
on  the  play-ground,  that  enabled  him  to  bear  off 
the  palm  in  the  school-room. 

It  is  generally  the  case  that  a  boy  who  does  one 
thing  well  will  do  another  well  also.  Employers 
understand  this,  and  choose  those  lads  who  exhibit 
a  disposition  to  be  thorough.  Said  Samuel  Budg- 
ett,  "  In  whatever  calling  a  man  is  found,  he  ought 
to  be  the  best  in  his  calling ;  if  only  a  shoeblack, 
he  ought  to  be  the  best  shoeblack  in  the  neighbor- 
hood." He  acted  upon  this  principle  himself  from 
his  boyhood  ;  and  so  did  Nat,  whether  he  was  fully 
conscious  of  it  or  not.  Sir  Joshua  Reynolds,  the 
great  painter,  said  that  his  success  resulted  mainly 
from  one  principle  upon  which  he  had  acted,  namely, 
"  to  make  every  picture  the  best." 

Buxton,  of  whom  we  have  spoken  already,  had 
as  much  force  of  character  in  his  youth  as  almost 
any  boy  who  ever  lived.  His  determination  was 
invincible,  and  his  energy  and  perseverance  were 
equal  to  his  resolution.  The  consequence  was  that 
he  became  famous  for  boating,  shooting,  riding, 
and  all  sorts  of  fieldsports,  though  he  cared  little 
for  any  thing  else.  But  when,  at  last,  his  attention 
was  turned  to  self-improvement  and  philanthropy, 


ATHLETIC    SPORTS.  55 

by  the  influence  of  the  Gurney  family,  he  carried 
the  same  qualities  with  him  there,  and  through 
them  won  a  world-wide  fame.  It  was  thus  with 
Sir  Walter  Scott,  who  was  second  to  no  one  in  his 
youth  for  his  dexterity  and  proficiency  in  athletic 
games,  and  the  various  forms  of  recreation.  He 
could  "  spear  a  salmon  with  the  best  fisher  on  the 
Tweed,  and  ride  a  wild  horse  with  any  hunter  in 
Yarrow. "  The  same  energy  and  unconquerable  will 
helped  him  achieve  that  herculean  labor  afterwards, 
of  paying  off  a  debt  of  six  hundred  thousand  dol- 
lars, with  his  pen.  The  Duke  of  Wellington  ac- 
knowledged the  same  principle,  when  he  said,  as 
he  stood  watching  the  sports  of  boys  on  the  play- 
ground of  Eton,  where  he  spent  his  juvenile  years, 
"  It  was  there  that  the  battle  of  Waterloo  was  won." 

Twenty-five  years  after  Nat  bore  off  the  palm  in 
athletic  games,  an  early  associate  asked  him  to 
what  he  owed  his  success,  and  he  answered,  in  a 
vein  of  pleasantry,  "  To  swimming  under  water." 
Whatever  may  have  been  his  meaning,  it  is  not  at 
all  difficult  to  discover  the  same  elements  of  char- 
acter in  squash-raising,  declamation,  and  arithmetic, 
that  appear  in  the  games  he  played. 

His  skill  in  the  water  served  him  a  good  purpose 
one  day,  or  rather,  it  served  another  boy  well.  Nat 
and  two  or  three  of  his  companions  were  at  play 
near  the  factory,  when  some  one  cried  out,  "  A  boy 
in  the  water  !  " 


56  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

In  an  instant  Nat  sprung,  followed  by  his  com- 
panions, and  made  for  the  water,  when  lo !  a  little 
boy  was  seen  struggling  to  keep  from  sinking.  He 
had  carelessly  ventured  too  near  and  fallen  in, 
and  must  have  perished  but  for  the  timely  aid 
thus  rendered  him.  Nat  plunged  in  after  him,  and 
his  play-fellows  did  the  same,  or  brought  rails,  by 
which  he  was  saved.  He  proved  to  be  Charlie's 
younger  brother. 

This  event  made  a  deep  impression  upon  Nat's 
mind,  and  he  reflected  upon  his  act  with  far  more 
satisfaction  than  he  did  upon  his  superiority  in 
swimming  or  playing  ball.  He  had  saved,  or 
helped  save,  a  lad  from  a  watery  grave,  and  that 
was  an  act  worth  performing.  He  went  home, 
and  after  relating  the  incident  with  the  greatest 
enthusiasm,  he  sat  down  and  drew  a  picture  repre- 
senting the  scene.  There  was  the  water  and 
buildings  near,  a  little  boy  struggling  for  life,  and 
Nat  and  associates  plunging  in  after  him.  It  was 
really  a  good  representation  of  the  terrific  scene  ; 
and  Nat  considered  it  quite  an  accession  to  his 
collection  of  drawings.  Thus  he  used  this  bit  of 
experience  to  advance  himself  in  one  branch  of 
education.  With  his  traits  of  character,  he  could 
not  excel  in  innocent  games,  without  receiving  an 
impulse  therefrom  to  excel  in  more  important 
acquisitions. 


CHAPTER    VI. 

A    MISTAKE. 

STERN  WINTER  locked  the  streams  again.  A 
snowy  mantle  covered  the  hills  and  valleys,  and 
the  bleak  winds  moaned  through  the  naked  trees. 
The  merry  sleigh-bells  jingled  in  the  streets,  and 
merrier  lads  and  lasses  filled  the  village  school- 
house.  The  skating  grounds  never  presented  more 
attractions  to  Nat  and  his  circle  of  schoolmates. 

"  The  ice  is  smooth  as  glass,"  said  John.  "  I 
never  saw  better  skating  in  my  life.  Will  you  try 
it  right  after  school  ?  " 

These  words  were  addressed  to  a  group  of  school- 
boys at  the  afternoon  recess,  to  which  all  but  two 
responded  in  the  affirmative.  It  was  a  snapping 
cold  day,  but  youthful  skaters  mind  nothing  for 
that. 

"  George  and  I  have  promised  to  see  the  teacher 
after  school  about  studying  grammar,"  said  Nean- 
der,  "  so  that  we  can't  go." 

(57) 


58  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

"  He  wants  to  form  a  new  class  in  grammar  for 
beginners,  and  our  parents  have  told  him  that  we 
must  study  it,"  said  George. 

"  I  will  sell  you  what  I  know  about  it  cheap,  if 
you  will  go  with  us,"  said  John,  who  had  studied 
grammar  a  short  time. 

"  I  don't  think  he  will  be  troubled  to  find  use  for 
as  much  as  that,"  said  Charlie,  jocosely. 

"  You  will  find  it  dry  as  a  chip,"  added  John. 
"  It  fairly  makes  me  thirsty  to  study  it." 

The  bell  rung,  and  the  boys  hurried  to  their 
seats.  At  the  close  of  the  school,  the  teacher  took 
occasion  to  say,  "  that  some  scholars  were  desirous 
of  beginning  the  study  of  grammar.  I  think  there 
might  be  quite  a  large  class  formed  of  those  who 
are  old  enough  to  begin.  It  is  a  very  important 
science.  It  will  teach  you  how  to  read  and  write 
the  English  language  correctly.  You  cannot  write 
a  good  letter  even  without  some  knowledge  of  this 
study.  Those  of  you  who  are  eleven  or  twelve 
years  of  age  ought  to  commence  it  at  once.  Now, 
those  of  you  who  would  like  to  join  such  a  class 
may  stop  after  the  school  is  dismissed,  and  we  will 
make  the  arrangements." 

Three  or  four  only  remained  —  others  passed 
out,  Nat  and  Charlie  among  them.  They  had 
never  studied  grammar,  and  the  teacher  really 
expected  they  would  remain.  Their  scholarship 
was  so  good  that  he  inferred  they  would  desire  to 
unite  with  such  a  class,  but  he  was  mistaken. 


A    MISTAKE.  59 

"  Shall  you  join  the  grammar  class,  Nat r  "  in- 
quired Charlie,  on  their  way  to  the  pond. 

"  No  ;  I  think  that  other  studies  will  be  of  more 
use  to  me.  Grammar  is  a  good  branch  for  rich 
men's  sons,  who  can  go  to  school  as  long  as  they 
want  to ;  but  I  am  not  a  rich  man's  son,  and  I 
never  expect  to  do  any  thing  that  will  require  a 
knowledge  of  grammar." 

"  That  is  my  idea  exactly,"  continued  Charlie. 
"  If  I  knew  I  should  ever  go  into  a  store,  or  be  a 
town  officer,  I  should  want  to  study  it." 

"According  to  the  teacher's  ideas,  you  will  need 
it  if  you  are  nothing  more  than  a  wood-sawyer's 
clerk,"  said  John. 

"  I  did  n't  quite  believe  all  the  teacher  said  about 
writing  letters,"  added  Nat.  "  I  have  heard  father 
say  that  grammar  was  not  studied  at  all  when 
he  went  to  school,  and  that  it  has  been  introduced 
into  school  quite  recently.  Now  I  would  like  to 
know  if  people  did  not  understand  how  to  write 
letters  in  those  days.  Could  n't  Washington  and 
Jefferson,  and  other  great  men,  write  letters  cor- 
rectly ?  " 

"  I  never  thought  of  that,"  said  Charlie.  "  I 
would  ask  the  teacher,  if  I  were  in  your  place,  to- 
morrow." 

"  For  one,"  said  John,  "  I  should  be  willing  to 
run  my  risk,  if  I  could  get  rid  of  studying  it.  I 
can't  make  much  out  of  it." 


GO  THE   BOBBIN    BOY. 

"  I  have  no  doubt,"  added  Nat,  "  that  it  is  a 
good  study  for  those  who  will  want  to  use  it ;  but  1 
shall  never  want  to  use  it,  and  it  is  better  for  me  to 
study  something  else.  Arithmetic  is  useful  to 
everybody,  if  they  never  buy  any  thing  but  meat 
out  of  a  butcher's  cart." 

By  this  time  they  had  reached  the  pond,  so  that 
the  subject  of  grammar  was  dropped,  and  skating 
taken  up. 

"  I  suppose  you  will  bear  off  the  palm  as  usual, 
Nat,"  said  Frank,  while  he  was  putting  on  his 
skates. 

"  I  don't  know  about  that,"  replied  Nat ;  "  if  a 
fellow  can't  skate  some  on  this  glare  ice,  he  better 
give  his  skates  to  somebody  who  can." 

Frank's  remark  was  drawn  out  by  the  fact  that 
Nat  was  already  considered  the  best  skater  in  the 
village.  He  could  skate  more  rapidly,  and  perform 
more  feats  on  his  skates  than  any  one  else.  His 
ability  had  been  fully  tested  again  and  again ;  and 
by  this  time  there  seemed  to  be  a  sort  of  expecta- 
tion among  the  boys  that  he  would  be  "  first  best " 
in  whatever  he  undertook.  For  this  reason  they 
hardly  attempted  to  compete  with  him,  but  yielded 
the  first  place  to  him  as  a  matter  of  course. 

Away  went  Nat  up  the  pond,  and  Charlie  ex- 
claimed, 

"  See  him  go  !  What  a  fellow  Nat  is  !  any  thing 
he  undertakes  has  to  go.  See  him  skate  now  on 
one  foot,  and  now  he  is  skating  backwards  !  " 


A   MISTAKE.  61 

"  And  he  does  it  just  as  easy  as  a  boy  knows  his 
father,"  said  John. 

For  nearly  an  hour  skating  was  enjoyed,  when  all 
concluded  that  their  suppers  would  be  waiting,  and 
so  they  separated  for  home. 

On  the  following  day,  soon  after  school  began  in 
the  morning,  the  teacher  brought  up  the  subject  of 
a  grammar  class,  evidently  dissatisfied  that  certain 
boys  did  not  remain  after  school,  on  the  previous 
afternoon,  to  join  it.  He  remarked  "  that  there 
were  several  boys  in  school,  who  might  study  gram- 
mar as  well  as  not,"  and  he  went  on  to  call  the 
names  of  some,  and  turning  to  Nat  and  Charlie, 
who  sat  together,  he  said,  "  Both  of  you  need  to 
begin  this  study  at  once.  It  would  have  been 
better  if  you  had  undertaken  it  before ;  but  it  is 
not  too  late  now.  You  will  never  regret  it  here- 
after. I  want  both  of  you  to  join  the  class,"  and 
he  uttered  the  last  sentence  as  if  he  meant  it. 

Neither  Nat  nor  Charlie  made  any  reply  at  the 
time ;  but  at  recess  they  went  to  the  teacher  and 
made  known  their  feelings. 

"  We  never  expect  to  do  any  thing  that  will  re- 
quire a  knowledge  of  grammar,"  said  Nat.  "  It  will 
do  well  enough  for  rich  men's  sons." 

"  Perhaps  both  of  you  will  be  lawyers,  ministers, 
legislators,  or  governors  yet,"  replied  the  teacher, 
smiling.  "  Poorer  boys  than  you  have  risen  to  occu- 
py as  important  places,  and  the  like  may  happen 
again." 


62  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

"  None  of  the  scholars  like  grammar,"  said 
Charlie  ;  "  they  say  it  is  dry  and  uninteresting,  and 
hard  to  understand." 

"  If  it  is  so,"  answered  the  teacher,  "  that  is  no 
reason  why  it  should  not  be  studied.  We  have  to 
do  some  very  unpleasant  things  in  this  world.  If 
you  live  to  become  men,  you  will  find  that  you  can- 
not have  every  thing  to  your  taste.  You  will  be 
obliged  to  do  some  things,  from  the  doing  of  which 
you  would  rather  be  excused.  And  as  to  your  not 
expecting  to  occupy  stations  in  future  life,  where 
you  will  find  a  knowledge  of  grammar  useful,  there 
is  more  prospect  of  it  than  there  was  that  Benja- 
min Franklin  would  become  distinguished.  He 
had  not  half  so  good  advantages  as  you  have.  His 
father  was  poor,  and  had  a  large  family  to  support. 
He  was  compelled  to  take  Benjamin  out  of  school, 
when  ten  years  old,  and  set  him  to  making  soap, 
which  was  not  very  popular  business.  But  the  boy 
did  as  well  as  he  could,  and  made  improvement 
though  deprived  of  school  advantages.  Then  he 
became  a  printer  boy,  and  used  all  his  spare  moments 
to  read  and  study,  so  that  he  advanced  more  rapidly 
than  many  of  his  companions  did  who  continued  in 
school.  He  always  had  to  work,  and  had  much 
more  reason  than  you  have,  when  he  was  of  your 
age,  to  say  that  he  should  never  occupy  a  position 
of  influence.  Yet  he  became,  as  you  know,  one  of 
the  most  learned  men  of  his  age,  a  philosopher  and 


A   MISTAKE.  63 

statesman  whose  fame  will  never  perish.  And  it 
was  somewhat  so  with  Patrick  Henry.  Though  he 
had  better  advantages  than  Benjamin  Franklin,  and 
had  a  father  who  was  able  to  assist  him,  yet  no  one 
thought  he  would  ever  become  distinguished.  It 
was  rather  thought  by  the  people  who  knew  him, 
that  he  would  never  accomplish  much.  Yet,  when 
he  came  to  improve  the  small  opportunities  he  had, 
after  his  father  had  ceased  to  aid  him,  he  rapidly 
advanced  to  fame.  He  became  the  most  noted 
orator  of  his  day,  and  a  very  popular  statesman. 
When  he  was  twelve  years  old,  he  had  no  idea  of 
occupying  such  a  place  in  manhood.  He  would 
have  laughed  at  the  suggestion.  There  are  many 
such  examples ;  and  they  show  us  that  boys  may 
rise  to  stations  they  never  expect  to  hold,  so  that 
your  plea  for  not  studying  grammar  is  a  poor  one. 
At  any  rate,  both  of  you  will  have  occasion  to  write 
letters,  and  perhaps  you  will  be  a  town  clerk  or 
justice.    I  shall  insist  upon  your  studying  grammar." 

Nat  and  Charlie  exchanged  glances,  as  the 
teacher  rung  the  bell  for  the  boys  to  come  in. 
They  saw  that  it  was  no  use  to  hold  out  against  his 
wishes,  for  his  last  remark  had  settled  the  matter. 
Therefore  they  reluctantly  yielded  to  his  request. 

This  was  the  first  instance  in  which  Nat  had  ex- 
hibited any  unwillingness  to  take  up  a  new  study. 
But  he  had  made  up  his  mind  that  it  would  not  be 
of  any  use  to  him,  so  that  he  had  little  heart  for  the 


64  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

science.  He  commenced  it,  and  recited  Lis  lessons, 
though  rather  mechanically,  without  clearly  under- 
standing them,  at  the  same  time  excelling  in  arith- 
metic, declamation,  and  other  exercises  that  en- 
gaged his  attention.  As  his  school  days  ended  a 
few  months  after,  his  knowledge  of  grammar  was 
very  limited  indeed.  The  sequel  will  disclose 
whether  he  was  not  finally  convinced  that  the 
teacher  was  right,  while  he  himself  was  wrong,  and 
whether  the  failure  to  improve  even  one  small  op- 
portunity does  not  become  the  occasion  of  future 
regret. 

"  Well,  Nat,  how  do  you  like  grammar  ? "  in- 
quired John,  some  weeks  afterwards. 

"  As  well  as  I  can,"  replied  Nat. 

"  So  do  I,  and  that  isn't  saying  much.  But  I 
thought  you  was  determined  not  to  study  it." 

"  I  thought  so  too,"  replied  Nat,  "  and  you  see 
what  thought  did." 

"  I  suppose  you  concluded  that  you  would  want 
to  write  letters  to  your  sweet-heart  some  time,  and 
it  would  be  a  pity  not  to  use  the  English  language 
with  propriety  in  such  a  case." 

"  I  did  n't  think  much  about  it ;  but  when  a  boy 
can't  do  as  he  likes,  there  is  no  way  left  but  to  do 
as  he  must,  and  that  is  my  case." 

"  I  thought  the  teacher  bore  rather  hard  upon 
us,"  said  Charlie,  who  had  been  listening  to  the 
conversation. 


A    MISTAKE.  65 

"  Perhaps  you  will  thank  him  for  it  when  you  get 
to  be  Dr.  Franklin,  Jr.,"  answered  Nat,  in  a  jesting 
manner. 

"  It  can't  be  denied,"  interrupted  John,  "  that 
the  teacher  is  a  great  grammarian.  Didn't  he  put 
Sam  into  the  objective  case  yesterday,  when  he  tum- 
bled him  head  over  heels  out  of  his  seat  ?  If  his 
action  did  n't  pass  over  to  an  object  then,  I  won't 
guess  again." 

"  Sam  looked  as  if  he  was  convinced  that  the 
teacher  was  an  active  verb,"  said  Nat.  "  He  found 
out  that  he  was  neither  neuter  nor  passive." 

The  subject  of  grammar  became  a  frequent  theme 
of  remark  during  the  remainder  of  the  term  among 
the  boys.  None  of  them  liked  it  very  well,  so  that 
poor  grammar  was  slandered,  and  many  a  joke  was 
cracked  over  it. 

It  was  during  this  term  that  Sam  Drake  allowed 
his  mischief-making  propensity  to  exhibit  itself  in  a 
cruel  act,  for  which  he  was  condemned  by  nearly 
all  beholders.  The  boys  were  returning  from  school 
one  night,  when  a  well-known  dog,  belonging  to  a 
neighbor,  came  out  to  salute  his  young  master,  one 
of  the  scholars.  He  was  somewhat  larger  than 
Trip,  and  a  playful  fellow,  ready  to  frolic  with  the 
boys. 

"  Come  here,  Spot,"  said  Sam  to  the  dog,  "good 
fellow,  can  you  run  after  a  stick  to-night  ?  "  and  he 
patted  him  upon  his  head,  till  the  dog  (who  was 
5 


66  THE   BOBBIN    BOY. 

usually  shy  of  Sam)  seemed  to  think  that  he  was  a 
good  friend.  "  There,  go  and  bring  that  to  me," 
at  the  same  time  throwing  a  little  stick  one  or  two 
rods. 

Spot  obeyed  at  once,  and  brought  back  the  stick, 
apparently  conscious  of  having  performed  his  duty 
well. 

"  What  do  you  suppose  he  would  do  if  I 
should  tie  my  dinner  pail  to  his  tail  ? "  inquired 
Sam. 

"  You  shan't  do  it,"  cried  two  or  three  boys,  none 
more  loudly,  however,  than  Nat. 

"  I  shall  do  it,  if  I  am  a  mind  to,"  replied  Sam ; 
and  he  proceeded  to  take  a  string  out  of  his  pocket 
for  this  purpose. 

"  You  are  too  bad  to  do  that,"  said  John,  trying 
to  dissuade  him  from  doing  it. 

"  It  seems  to  me  that  you  all  have  a  heap  of  pity 
just  now,"  said  Sam. 

"  I  wish  you  had,"  responded  Nat. 

"  You  would  get  precious  little  of  it,  Mr.  Squash 
peddler,  if  I  had,"  answered  Sam.  "  The  dog  is 
none  of  your  relations,  and  you  needn't  trouble 
yourself  about  him." 

Ben  Drake,  ere  this,  had  turned  to  aid  Sam  in 
executing  his  purpose,  and  the  pail  was  actually 
tied  to  Spot's  tail  before  this  conversation  closed. 

"  Take  off  the  cover,"  said  Ben,  and  no  quicker 
said  than  done ;  whereupon  Spot  ran  yelping  down 


A    MISTAKE.  67 

the  street,  the  tin  pail  rattling  behind  him  so  as  to 
frighten  him  beyond  measure.  The  faster  he  ran, 
the  more  the  pail  rattled,  and  the  more  terrified  the 
dog  was.  Men  stopped  in  the  street  to  see  the  cruel 
sport,  and  express  their  disapproval. 

"It  is  one  of  Sam  Drake's  tricks,"  said  Charlie 
to  an  inquiry  put  by  a  gentleman. 

Sam  and  Ben  laughed  till  they  could  scarcely 
stand  upon  their  feet  to  see  the  dog  run.  It  was 
just  such  sport  as  they  loved. 

"  Hurrah  for  Spot !  "  shouted  Sam,  swinging  his 
hat.  "  He  '11  spill  his  dinner  if  he  don't  carry  the 
pail  more  carefully." 

"  If  it  was  my  dog,"  said  Frank,  "  you  would  find 
my  father  after  you." 

"  You  ought  to  be  ashamed  of  yourself,"  added 
Nat.  "  It  would  not  have  been  more  cruel  in  you 
to  kill  him  outright.  You  are  always  up  to  some- 
thing of  the  kind." 

Not  one  of  the  boys  approved  of  Sam's  and  Ben's 
cruelty.  All  expressed  decided  sympathy  for  Spot, 
and  were  glad  to  see  the  pail  drop  from  his  tail  by 
the  time  he  had  run  thirty  or  forty  rods. 

"  What  kind  of  a  noun  is  Sam  ?  "  inquired  John, 
with  one  of  his  roguish  glances  of  the  eye. 

"  A  proper  noun,  of  course,"  replied  Charlie. 

"  Not  by  any  means,"  said  Nat ;  "  it  takes  a 
decent  fellow  to  be  a  proper  noun.  Sam  is  an  im- 
proper noun.  I  don't  believe  he  has  behaved  proper 
one  whole  day  in  five  years." 


68  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

This  remark  got  a  hearty  laugh  upon  Sam,  and 
he  felt  it.  He  mumbled  over  something,  and  shook 
his  fist  a  little,  but  Nat  could  hear  no  part  of  his 
remark  but  the  oath  that  closed  it.  Sam  was  very 
profane,  and  his  brother  was  too.  It  was  not  un- 
usual for  both  of  them  to  utter  the  most  wicked 
oaths.  They  seemed  to  delight  in  using  the  worst 
words  of  the  English  language. 

This  barbarous  act  of  Sam  was  frequently  spoken 
of  thereafter,  and  he  stood  lower  than  ever  in  the 
estimation  of  Nat.  The  latter  possessed  tender 
feelings  towards  all  sorts  of  animals,  and  he  was 
much  disposed  to  pet  them.  It  might  be  almost 
said  of  him  as  Parry  did  of  Sir  John  Franklin,  "  he 
never  turned  his  back  upon  a  danger,  yet  he  was  so 
tender  that  he  would  not  brush  away  a  mosquito." 

The  winter  session  of  the  school  closed,  and 
vacation  brought  its  work  and  pleasures.  We 
should  be  glad  to  follow  Nat  through  these  few 
weeks  of  vacation,  but  we  must  hasten  to  a  scene 
that  was  enacted  when  the  following  summer  was 
far  spent. 


CHAPTER    VII 


PROSPECT    HILL. 


"  "VTAT,"  SAID  Frank,  as  they  were  going  home 

-L^l  from  school  one  Friday  night  of  the  follow- 
ing summer,  "  let  us  go  up  on  Prospect  Hill  to-mor- 
row afternoon  ;  it  will  be  a  capital  time  for  a  view, 
if  it  is  a  clear  day." 

"  Agreed,"  responded  Nat.  "  I  told  Harry  the 
other  day  that  I  could  count  a  hundred  churches 
from  that  hill,  and  he  laughed  at  me,  and  I  mean 
to  see  if  I  was  far  from  the  truth." 

"  Well,  I  guess  you  set  it  a  little  too  high,"  said 
Frank,  "  but  it  is  a  grand  sight  that  we  have  there." 

"  Yes !  I  heard  Mr.  Sawtelle  (Nat's  pastor)  say, 
that  he  never  enjoyed  such  a  fine  prospect  any- 
where else,  because  so  many  different  objects  can 
be  seen.  I  wish  I  could  look  through  a  spy-glass 
from  that  hill,  would  n't  it  be  fine  ? " 

Just  then  the  two  boys  reached  a  corner  where 
they  must  separate  to  go  to  their  respective  homes, 
and  the  engagement  was  renewed  by  Nat's  saying, 

(69) 


70  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

"  Now  remember,  Frank,  and  be  along  in  good 
season." 

A  word  about  Prospect  Hill.  We  are  not  sure 
that  this  was  the  veritable  name  given  to  this  lofty 
eminence  at  that  time ;  but  we  call  it  thus  now 
because  we  have  heard  Nat  designate  it  thus  since 
he  became  a  man.  It  is  certainly  a  very  appro- 
priate appellation  with  which  to  christen  a  hill  that 
towers  up  so  abruptly  toward  heaven. 

This  hill  was  situated  just  back  of  Nat's  native 
village,  perhaps  a  half  mile  or  more  from  the  com- 
mon on  which  he  was  wont  to  play.  The  top  of  it 
was  crowned  with  a  mammoth  rock,  which  an  enthu- 
siastic geologist  might  call  its  crown  jewel.  Indeed, 
we  are  inclined  to  believe  that  nearly  the  whole  hill 
is  composed  of  granite,  from  base  to  top,  and  were 
the  rocky  eminence  near  some  "  Giants'  Causeway," 
we  should  regard  it  the  work  of  these  fabled 
characters,  perhaps  begun  as  the  first  rough  step- 
ping stone  to  the  stars. 

The  boys  were  right  when  they  spoke  so  earnestly 
of  the  grand  view  presented  from  the  brow  of  this 
hill.  There  was  nothing  like  it  in  all  the  "  region 
round  about ;  "  and  it  is  grander  still  at  the  present 
day,  because  the  cunning  hand  of  art  has  beautified 
almost  every  foot  of  land  in  view,  and  reared  struc- 
tures of  varied  form  and  costliness  on  every  hand. 
In  the  magnificent  panorama  appear  a  score  of 
little  villages  nestling  among  the  distant  trees,  while 


PROSPECT   HILL.  71 

as  many  larger  ones  stand  forth  in  more  imposing 
grandeur,  and  several  cities  spread  out  their  wealth 
of  stores  and  palaces,  and  lift  their  church  spires 
and  domes  of  public  edifices  high  to  the  blazing  sun. 
Dame  Nature  lends  enchantment  to  the  view  by  the 
freshness  and  beauty  of  her  inimitable  landscape. 
Green  and  mossy  meadow,  rich,  cultivated  upland, 
luxurious  gardens,  sweet  shady  grottos  and  cozy 
dells,  orchards,  forests,  farms,  with  almost  every 
variety  of  natural  scenery,  enliven  the  prospect 
beyond  description ;  and  last,  though  not  least  of 
all,  a  beautiful  river  pursues  its  serpentine  course 
through  dusky  everglades  and  grass-grown  valleys, 
as  if  an  unearthed  mine,  fused  by  subterranean 
fires,  were  pouring  forth  its  vast  treasures  in  a 
stream  of  molten  silver.  The  scene  is  so  truly 
grand  that  neither  tongue  nor  pen  can  do  justice  to 
the  reality. 

Saturday  afternoon  came  as  usual,  with  its  free- 
dom from  school-hour  quiet  and  study.  Frank 
was  on  time,  accompanied  by  his  knowing  little  dog, 
"  Trip,"  and  Nat  was  as  much  on  time  as  he. 

"Halloo!  Frank,"  exclaimed  Nat;  " going  to 
take  Trip  along  with  us  ?  " 

"Yes!  he'll  enjoy  it  as  well  as  we,"  replied 
Frank. 

"  And  I"  shall  enjoy  it  a  good  deal  better  to 
have  him  with  us,"  continued  Nat.  "  Come  here 
Trip,   you    nice   little    fellow,   and    see    the    best 


72  THE   BOBBIN    BOY. 

friend  you  have."  And  Trip  bounded  upon  him, 
giving  him  as  hearty  a  "  good  afternoon "  as  a 
dog  can,  while  Nat  returned  the  compliment  by 
patting  him  upon  his  neck,  and  telling  him,  as  he 
glanced  a  curious  eye  at  Frank,  "  that  he  knew 
almost  as  much  as  his  master." 

"  I  wish  that  dog  was  mine,"  said  Nat. 

"  I  don't,"  responded  Frank  ;  "  but  I  wish  you 
had  one  just  like  him." 

"  I  suppose  you  don't  know  where  I  can  buy  his 
brother  or  sister,  do  you  ?  " 

Frank  smiled,  and  before  he  had  time  to  reply, 
they  were  hailed  by  Sam  and  Ben  Drake. 

"  Where  now,  boys  ?  "  inquired  Sam. 

"  Bound  for  Prospect  Hill :  it  is  a  good  clear 
day  for  a  fine  view,  and  I  am  going  to  count  the 
churches,"  answered  Nat. 

"  Count  your  grandmothers !  "  sneeringly  ex- 
claimed Sam.  "  I  would  give  more  to  roll  a  big 
stone  down  the  steep  side  than  I  would  for  the  best 
view  you  can  get  from  the  top." 

"  But  don't  you  think  the  prospect  from  the  hill 
is  fine,  Sam  ?  " 

"  Fine  enough,  I  s'pose,  though  I  don't  know 
much  about  it,  as  I  never  thought  it  was  best  to  in- 
jure my  eyes  looking." 

"  Well,  I  must  say  that  you " 

"  There,  take  that,  you  little  whelp,"  just  then 
shouted  Sam  to  Trip,  as  he  gave  the  little  dog  a 
kick  that  sent  him  half  across  the  road. 


PROSPECT   HILL.  73 

It  seems  that  Trip  happened  to  come  in  Sam's 
way,  so  that  he  stumbled  against  him,  and  this 
aroused  his  ire  at  once,  and  then  followed  the  cruel 
assault.  The  dog  certainly  did  not  mean  to  come 
in  his  way,  for  he  was  not  a  boy  that  even  the  dogs 
liked.  They  iisually  kept  a  respectable  distance 
from  both  Sam  and  Ben,  and  saved  their  good-will 
for  such  kind  boys  as  Nat  and  Frank.  Dogs  learn 
very  readily  who  their  friends  are,  and  they  wag 
their  tails  and  skip  around  those  only  who  are. 

Frank  looked  at  Nat  when  he  saw  his  favorite  dog 
thus  abused,  and  the  glance  which  they  exchanged 
told  what  each  of  them  thought  of  the  barbarous 
treatment.  Nothing  was  said,  however,  and  they 
passed  on.  It  was  evident,  by  this  time,  that  Sam 
and  his  brother  intended  to  accompany  them,  with- 
out an  invitation,  to  Prospect  Hill.  While  they  are 
on  the  way,  we  will  improve  the  time  to  say  a  word 
about  Nat's  love  of  nature. 

Sam  could  see  no  beauty  in  a  landscape.  Why 
any  person  should  want  to  stand  upon  a  hill-top  for 
a  whole  half  hour  to  view  green  lawns,  gardens, 
meadows,  and  villages  and  cities,  with  their  church 
ppires  and  domes,  he  could  not  understand,  espec- 
ially after  they  had  seen  them  once.  If  he  could 
have  been  put  into  Eden,  it  would  have  been  no 
sport  for  him,  unless  he  could  have  had  the  privi- 
lege of  clubbing  the  cats  and  stoning  the  dogs. 

It  was  different  with  Nat.     He  never  tired  of  the 


74  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

view  from  Prospect  Hill,  and  this  love  of  nature 
and  art  contributed  to  elevate  his  character.  This 
is  always  the  case.  Scarcely  any  person  has  be- 
come renowned  for  learning,  in  whom  this  love  was 
not  early  developed.  Sir  Francis  Chan  trey  was  one 
of  the  most  distinguished  artists  of  his  day,  possess- 
ing a  nice  discrimination  and  a  most  delicate  taste, 
to  aid  him  in  his  remarkable  imitations  of  nature. 
He  was  reared  upon  a  farm,  where  he  enjoyed  the 
innocent  pleasure  of  ranging  the  forests,  climbing 
hills,  bathing  in  ponds  and  streams,  and  rambling 
through  vale  and  meadow  for  fowl  and  fish,  all  of 
which  he  did  with  a  "  relish  keen."  Perhaps  he 
owed  more  to  the  inspiration  of  the  wild  scenes  of 
Derby  Hills,  than  to  all  the  books  that  occupied  his 
attention  in  his  boyhood's  days.  The  same  was 
true  of  the  gifted  poet  Burns,  whose  sweet  and  lofty 
verse  has  made  the  name  of  Scotland,  his  native 
land,  immortal.  He  took  his  first  lessons  from  the 
green  fields,  and  gushing  bird-songs,  on  his  father's 
farm.  Silently,  and  unconsciously  to  himself,  dame 
Nature  waked  his  poetic  genius  into  life,  when  he 
followed  the  plough,  angled  in  his  favorite  stream, 
or  played  "  echo "  with  the  neighboring  woods. 
The  late  Hugh  Miller,  also,  the  world-renowned 
geologist,  might  have  been  unknown  to  fame  but 
for  the  unconscious  tuition  that  he  derived  from  the 
rocky  sides  of  Cromarty  Hill,  and  his  boyish  explo- 
ration of  Doocot  Caves.     He  loved  nature   more 


PROSPECT   HILL.  75 

than  he  loved  art.  There  was  nothing  that  suited 
him  better  than  to  be  scaling  the  rugged  sides  of 
hills,  exploring  deep,  dark  caverns,  and  hunting 
shells  and  stones  on  the  sea-shore.  He  was  natu- 
rally rough,  headstrong,  and  heedless  —  qualities 
that  tend  to  drag  a  youth  down  to  ruin.  But  his 
love  of  nature  opened  a  path  of  innocent  thought 
and  amusement  before  him,  and  saved  him  from  a 
wretched  life. 

Thus  the  facts  of  history  show  that  there  is  more 
hope  of  a  boy  who  loves  the  beautiful  in  nature  and 
art,  than  of  him  who,  like  Sam  Drake,  cared  for 
neither.  Perhaps  we  shall  learn  that  it  would  have 
been  better  for  Sam  if  he  had  thought  more  favor- 
ably of  nature,  and  less  of  rude  and  cruel  sports. 

The  boys  reached  the  top  of  the  hill  before  two 
o'clock.  Sam  Drake  was  the  first  to  set  his  foot 
upon  its  solid  apex,  and  he  signalized  the  event  by 
swinging  his  hat,  and  shouting, 

"  Three  cheers  for  the  meeting-houses  !  " 

This  was  done,  of  course,  as  a  sort  of  reflection 
upon  Nat,  who  made  no  reply.  Sam  was  about 
three  years  older  than  Nat,  and  yet  Nat  was  the 
most  of  a  man. 

"  A  fire  in  Boston,"  exclaimed  Frank,  as  soon  as 
he  reached  the  summit,  and  cast  his  eyes  towards 
the  city.  All  looked,  and,  to  their  surprise,  there 
was  a  dense  volume  of  smoke  issuing  from  the 
north  part  of  the  city,  indicating  that  a  terrific  fire 


76  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

was  raging.  Had  it  been  in  the  night-time,  the 
whole  heavens  would  have  been  lighted  up  with  the 
blaze,  and  the  scene  would  have  been  grand  beyond 
description.  But  in  the  sunlight,  nothing  but 
smoke  could  be  seen. 

"  What  do  you  suppose  it  is  burning  ?"  inquired 
Frank.  "  It  must  be  some  large  building,  I  should 
think  by  the  smoke  it  makes.  Perhaps  it  is  a 
whole  block  on  fire." 

"  I  guess  it  is  one  of  Nat's  churches,"  said  Sam, 
casting  a  glance  at  the  person  hit  by  the  remark. 
"  He  had  better  count  it  before  it  is  gone." 

"  Well,"  replied  Nat,  who  was  tempted  by  the 
last  fling  to  answer,  "  I  know  of  one  fellow " 

And  there  he  stopped  short,  for  his  caution  pre- 
vailed, and  he  concluded  that  "  the  least  said  the 
better."  He  had  a  pretty  cutting  remark  on  the 
tip  of  his  tongue,  when  he  remembered  that  Sam 
was  older  than  himself,  and  was  base  enough  to 
return  a  blow  for  a  word.  Besides,  he  had  a  special 
dislike  for  Sam,  since  his  cruel  treatment  of  Spot, 
which  would  naturally  lead  him  to  say  as  little  to 
him  as  possible. 

"  What  is  that  you  know  about  a  fellow  ?  "  said 
Sam,  growing  angry.  "  It  is  a  lucky  thing  for  you 
that  you  did  n't  say  it.  Give  me  any  of  your  sarce, 
and  I'll  let  you  know  who  is  the  oldest.  Boys  that 
count  churches  better  look  two  ways  for  Sunday." 

Frank  saw  how  things  were  going,  so  he  sought 


PROSPECT    HILL.  77 

to  quell  the  storm  in  Sam's  breast  by  calling  the 
attention  of  all  to  the  peculiar  symmetry  and 
beauty  of  an  elm  tree  that  stood  in  the  distance. 
But  Sam,  not  caring  to  view  such  objects,  turned 
away  to  hurl  stones,  with  which  he  had  taken  care 
to  fill  his  pockets,  at  some  object  near  the  base  of 
the  hill.  Frank's  device,  however,  accomplished 
the  object  intended. 

"  How  many  miles  do  you  think  we  can  see  from 
the  top  of  this  hill  ? "  inquired  Nat,  addressing 
himself  to  Frank. 

"  Well,  I  hardly  know,"  answered  Frank.  "  We 
can  see  Boston  very  plainly,  and  that  is  ten  miles 
distant.  We  can  see  further  still  in  the  other 
direction,  perhaps  twice  as  far." 

"How  fine  this  is!"  continued  Nat.  "But  I 
must  begin  to  count  the  churches,  or  I  shall  not 
get  through  this  afternoon.  One,  two,  three,  four, 
five,  six,  seven,  eight,  nine,  ten — -yes,  here  are  ten 
right  here  within  a  few  miles.  And  now  let  us 
count  them  — —  " 

He  was  stopped  here  in  the  middle  of  a  sen- 
tence, by  the  yelp  of  the  dog  Trip,  and  both 
turned  to  see  what  was  the  matter  with  him,  when 
Sam  shouted : 

"  Look  here,  Frank,  dogs  are  falling.  Trip  has 
taken  the  shortest  cut  down  hill  this  time." 

"  Good  !  "  added  Ben.  "  I  wish  all  the  dogs  were 
kicked  after  him."  And  both  Sam  and  Ben  seemed 
to  glory  in  the  calamity  that  had  befallen  Trip. 


78  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

Frank  and  Nat  stood  appalled  when  they  saw 
what  the  trouble  was.  Sam  had  kicked  Trip 
down  the  precipitous  side  of  the  hill,  where  there 
was  a  fearful  plunge  of  thirty  or  forty  feet;  and 
there  he  lay  motionless  upon  his  side.  Although 
they  stood  so  far  above  the  dog,  it  was  very  evident 
that  he  was  dead.  Frank  burst  into  tears  as  the 
unwelcome  truth  flashed  upon  his  mind  that 
Trip  was  no  more.  It  was  a  full,  overflowing 
gush  of  grief  from  the  bottom  of  his  heart.  Nat 
felt  badly  to  see  the  dog  killed,  and  also  at  seeing 
the  grief  into  which  Frank  was  plunged,  and  he 
began  to  weep  also ;  and  there  the  two  boys  cried 
as  sincerely  over  the  lifeless  dog,  as  ever  friend 
shed  tears  over  the  corpse  of  friend. 

"  Well  done,  now,  if  I  ain't  beat !  "  exclaimed 
Sam.  "Crying  over  a  dead  dog!  Better  save 
your  tears  for  his  funeral,  Frank.  I'll  preach  his 
funeral  sermon  if  you'll  name  a  text.  And  you 
come  in  second  mourner,  do  yoii,  Nat  ?  " 

"  Second  mourner  or  not,"  answered  Nat,  wiping 
his  eyes,  and  roused  by  the  scene  into  a  magnani- 
mous self-defence,  "  if  I  was  in  Frank's  place,  your 
father  should  know  of  this." 

"  Well,  'spose  he  does  know  it,  what  do  you 
think  I  care  ?  "  responded  Sam.  "  I'd  like  to  sec 
the  old  man  calling  me  to  an  account  for  killing  a 
dog." 

"  So  should  I  like  to  see  him  do  it,"    quickly 


PROSPECT   HILL.  79 

added  Nat,  "  if  he  would  give  you  what  you  de- 
serve." 

Ben  evidently  relented  by  this  time  for  his  harsh 
saying  about  the  matter,  and  addressing  his  broth- 
er, he  said, 

"  After  all,  Sam,  I  think  it  was  rather  too  bad  to 
kill  Trip,  for  he  was  the  cleverest  dog  in  town.  I 
don't  think  you  '11  gain  many  friends  by  the  act." 

"  I  didn't  mean  to  kill  him,"  said  Sam. 

"  But  you  might  have  known  that  it  would  kill 
him  to  kick  him  down  such  a  place  as  that,"  said 
Nat. 

"  That  is  not  so  clear,  my  boy,"  replied  Sam ; 
"  it  takes  a  boy  bright  enough  to  count  meeting- 
houses to  do  that.  You  see  I  am  green  —  it  is 
the  bright  feller,  who  can  speak  pieces,  and  look 
at  the  fields  and  trees  from  Prospect  Hill,  to 
foresee  such  events." 

"  Come,  Sam,  you  are  a  little  too  bad,"  said  Ben. 
"  I  don't  think  you  'd  like  it  very  well  if  Frank 
should  kill  your  gray  squirrel  the  first  chance  he 
has." 

Sam  found  it  difficult  to  argue  the  case  with  his 
brother  Ben  against  him,  who  had  really  been  con- 
verted over  to  the  other  side  by  the  tears  of  Frank 
and  Nat.  Ben  was  always  a  better  boy  than  Sam, 
but  he  often  yielded  to  his  wicked  counsels  because 
Sam  was  the  eldest.  Ben  was  made  worse  by  his 
brother's  influence.     This  was  the  general  impres- 


80  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

sion  in  the  neighborhood.  Sam  also,  owed  a  spite 
to  good  boys  in  general,  who  ranked  higher  than 
himself  in  school,  and  were  thought  more  highly 
of  in  the  community.  He  knew  that  Nat  was  a 
favorite,  in  school  and  out,  with  all  who  knew  him, 
and  so  he  was  envious  and  vindictive.  He  twitted 
him  about  thinking  more  of  himself  than  he  ought, 
although  he  did  not  really  think  so.  The  fact  was, 
Nat  was  far  in  advance  of  Sam  in  reading,  writing, 
arithmetic,  and  every  branch  of  study,  although 
the  latter  was  three  years  older.  This  circum- 
stance probably  excited  the  ill-will  of  Sam,  as  he 
had  an  evil  disposition,  made  more  evil  every  day 
by  his  vicious  couree.  What  he  said  and  did  on 
that  day  was  the  result  of  his  jealousy  and  envy, 
in  connection  with  his  bad  temper  and  reckless 
spirit.  Probably  he  did  not  think  of  killing 
Trip,  when  he  gave  him  a  kick,  for  he  was  ut- 
terly reckless,  and  scarcely  ever  stopped  to  con- 
sider consequences.  But  this  was  no  excuse.  It 
is  evidence  rather  of  a  more  dangerous  temper  of 
mind. 

Sam  gave  Ben  a  wink,  and  both  hurried  away  to- 
gether, leaving  Nat  and  Frank  alone,  as  they  were 
glad  to  be. 

"  How  cruel  Sam  is  !  "  said  Frank,  breaking  the 
silence  that  prevailed  after  they  were  left  alone. 

"  Worse  than  that,"  added  Nat.  "  I  begin  to 
think  that  what  Mr.  Bond  said  the  other  day  about 
him  will  prove  true." 


PROSPECT   HILL.  81 

"  What  did  he  say  ?  " 

"  He  said  that  Sam  would  become  a  very  bad 
man,  unless  he  turned  his  course  soon,  and  that  he 
should  not  be  surprised  if  he  came  to  the  gallows. 
I  thought  at  once  of  a  story  which  I  read  the  other 
day  about  a  boy." 

"  Do  you  mean  a  boy  like  Sam  ?  " 

"  Yes ;  very  much  like  him.  He  lived  in  Eng- 
land, and  he  was  neighbor  to  a  minister  there. 
The  minister  had  two  or  three  sons  whom  he 
warned  not  to  associate  with  this  bad  boy.  He  told 
them  that  he  would  come  to  some  bad  end  because 
he  did  not  obey  his  parents,  and  was  so  wicked  in 
other  respects.  And  it  proved  true ;  for,  in  a  few 
years  he  was  shut  up  in  prison  for  his  crimes." 

"  Sam  ought  to  be  put  there  for  what  lie  has  done 
already,"  said  Frank.  "  But  come,  let  us  go  round 
and  get  poor  Trip's  body.  He  shall  have  a  decent 
burial  at  any  rate." 

Both  started  up,  and  hastened  down  the  hill  to  a 
spot  from  which  they  might  turn  and  pass  round  to 
where  Trip  lay.  They  were  soon  at  his  side. 
Frank  took  up  his  lifeless  body,  and  the  tears 
started  afresh  as  he  said,  "  stone  dead." 

"  Oh,  how  sorry  I  am  that  we  let  Trip  come  with 
us  !  "  said  Nat. 

"  So  am  I,  but  it  can't  be  helped  now  ;  his  neck 
is  broke,  and  neither  of  us  can  mend  it." 

"  Let  us  carry  him  home  as  a  witness  against 
6 


82  THE  BOBBIN   BOY. 

Sam.  Your  folks  will  want  to  see  him  once  more, 
too,  and  I  know  that  my  father  and  mother  would 
be  glad  to."  Thus  Nat  expressed  himself  as  they 
turned  their  steps  homeward.  Silently  they  walked 
on,  Frank  carrying  the  dog-corpse  in  his  arms,  as 
solemn  as  ever  pall-bearer  bore  the  remains  of  hu- 
man being  to  the  grave.  We  will  leave  them  to 
get  home  in  their  own  time,  while  we  look  in  upon 
Nat's  father  and  mother. 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

THE    END    OF    SCHOOL-DAYS. 

IN  THE  course  of  the  afternoon  Nat's  father  met 
the  agent  of  the  factory,  and  the  following  con- 
versation ensued :  — 

"  What  do  you  say  about  letting  your  boy  come 
into  the  factory  to  work  ?  "  said  the  agent.  "  We 
are  greatly  in  need  of  a  boy  to  carry  bobbins,  and 
we  will  give  him  two  dollars  a  week." 

"  I  '11  see  what  his  mother  says  about  it.  I  sup- 
pose he  will  have  to  do  something  for  a  living  soon. 
I  shall  not  be  able  to  do  much  more  for  him." 

"  But  Nat  has  worked  some  already  in  a  factory, 
has  he  not  ?  " 

"  Well,  not  exactly  to  make  it  a  business.  He 
was  at  his  uncle's,  in  Lowell,  about  six  months,  and 
he  was  a  '  picker  boy '  a  short  time." 

"  That  is  enough  to  initiate  him.  It  is  only  a 
step  from  '  picker  boy '  to  i  bobbin  boy.'  " 

The  facts  about   his  going  to  Lowell  were  these : 

{83) 


84  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

He  bad  an  uncle  there  who  was  a  clergyman,  and 
Nat  was  one  of  his  favorites,  as  he  was  generally  with 
all  those  who  knew  him  intimately.  This  uncle  pro- 
posed that  Nat  should  come  and  stay  with  him  a 
few  months  in  the  new  "  city  of  spindles"  (for  the 
city  was  then  only  about  four  years  old),  a  sort  of 
baby-city.  The  lad  was  only  eleven  years  old,  at 
that  time,  though  he  was  more  forward  and  manly 
than  most  boys  are  at  fifteen.  He  was  somewhat 
pleased  with  the  idea  of  going  to  his  uncle's,  and 
engaged  in  preparing  for  the  event  with  a  light 
heart.  As  the  time  drew  near  for  his  departure,  he 
found  he  loved  home  more  than  he  thought  he  did, 
and  he  almost  wished  that  he  had  not  decided  to 
go.  But  being  a  boy  of  much  decision,  as  we  have 
seen,  he  was  rather  ashamed  to  relinquish  what  he 
had  undertaken  to  do.  He  said  little  or  nothing 
therefore  about  his  feelings,  but  went  at  the  ap- 
pointed time.  Soon  after  he  became  a  member  of 
his  uncle's  family,  where  he  was  a  very  welcome 
visitor,  a  "  picker  boy "  was  wanted  in  the  fac- 
tory, and  arrangements  were  made  for  Nat  to  fill 
the  place.  He  entered  upon  the  work,  well  pleased 
to  be  able  to  earn  something  for  his  parents,  and  he 
fully  satisfied  his  employers,  by  his  close  attention  to 
his  work,  his  respectful  manners,  and  his  amiable, 
intelligent,  and  gentlemanly  bearing.  But  Nat 
loved  home  too  well  to  be  contented  to  remain  long 
av^ay.     He  had  seasons  of  being  homesick,  when 


THE   END    OF    SCHOOL-DAYS.  85 

he  thought  he  would  give  more  to  see  his  father  and 
mother  again  than  for  any  tiling  beside.  His  uncle 
saw  that  the  boy  was  really  growing  thin  under  the 
intense  longing  of  his  heart  for  home,  so  he  wrote 
to  his  parents,  and  arrangements  were  made  imme- 
diately for  his  return.  It  was  a  happy  day  for  Nat 
when  he  reached  home,  and  took  his  parents  once 
more  by  the  hand.  Home  never  seemed  more  pre- 
cious than  it  did  then.  If  he  had  been  a  singer,  I 
have  no  doubt  that  he  would  have  made  the  old 
homestead  resound  with  the  familiar  song  of  Payne, 

"  'Mid  pleasures  and  palaces  though  we  may  roam, 
Be  it  ever  so  humble,  there 's  no  place  like  home." 

It  is  a  good  sign  for  boys  to  love  home.  Good 
boys  always  do  love  home.  It  is  the  place  where 
their  parents  dwell,  whom  they  love  and  respect. 
No  ties  are  so  dear  as  those  which  bind  them  to 
this  sacred  spot.  No  love  is  purer  than  that  which 
unites  them  to  parents,  brothers,  and  sisters.  It 
may  be  a  home  of  poverty,  where  few  of  the 
comforts,  and  none  of  the  luxuries  of  life  are 
found,  but  this  does  not  destroy  its  charm.  Sick- 
ness and  misfortune  may  be  there,  and  still  it  is 
home,  loved  and  sought.  Others  may  have  more 
splendid  homes,  where  affluence  gathers  much  to 
please  the  eye  and  fascinate  the  heart,  but  they 
would  not  be  received  in  exchange  for  this. 

Such  boys  as  Sam  and  Ben  Drake  seldom  lovo 


86  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

home.  Disobedient  and  headstrong  children  do  not 
love  their  parents  much,  and,  for  this  reason,  home 
has  few  charms  except  as  a  place  to  eat  and  sleep. 
The  history  of  nearly  all  base  men  will  show  that 
in  early  life  they  broke  away  from  the  restraints  of 
home,  and  ceased  to  love  the  place  where  parents 
would  guide  them  in  the  path  of  virtue.  Some 
years  ago  a  distinguished  philanthropist  visited  a 
young  man  about  twenty-eight  years  of  age,  who 
was  confined  in  prison  for  passing  counterfeit 
money.  His  sentence  was  imprisonment  for  life. 
He  had  become  very  sad  and  penitent  in  conse- 
quence of  his  imprisonment,  and  the  fact  that  con- 
sumption was  rapidly  carrying  him  to  the  grave. 
The  philanthropist  inquired  into  his  history.  When 
he  spoke  to  the  prisoner  of  his  mother,  he  observed 
that  his  chin  quivered,  and  that  tears  came  unbid- 
den to  his  eyes. 

"  Was  not  your  mother  a  Christian  ?  "  inquired 
the  visitor. 

"  Oh  yes,  sir  !  "  he  answered ;  "  many  and  many 
a  time  has  she  warned  me  of  this.', 

"  Then  you  had  good  Christian  parents  and 
wholesome  instruction  at  home,  did  you  not  ?  " 

"  Certainly  ;  but  it  all  avails  me  nothing  now." 

"  Then  why  are  you  here  ?  " 

Raising  himself  up  in  bed  to  reply  to  this  last 
inquiry,  the  young  man  said, 

"  I  can  answer  you  that  question  in  a  word.     I 


THE   END    OP   SCHOOL-DAYS.  87 

did  not  obey  my  parents  nor  care  for  home."  And 
he  uttered  these  last  words  with  a  look  and  tone 
of  despair  that  sent  a  chill  through  the  interroga- 
tor's heart. 

This  is  but  one  illustration  of  the  truth,  that 
boys  who  do  not  love  home  usually  make  shipwreck 
of  their  characters.  Probably  Sam  Drake  would 
have  laughed  at  Nat,  or  any  other  boy,  for  being 
homesick,  and  said, 

"  I  should  like  to  see  myself  tied  to  mother's 
apron  strings.  It  will  do  for  babies  to  cry  to  see 
their  mothers,  but  it  will  not  do  for  men.  Suppose 
it  is  home,  there  are  other  places  in  creation  be- 
sides home.  I  'd  have  folks  know  that  there  's  one 
feller  who  can  go  away  from  home,  and  stay  too." 

A  great  many  men  who  are  now  in  prison,  or  dis- 
honored graves,  talked  exactly  so  when  they  were 
young.  They  thought  it  was  manly  to  have  their 
own  way,  and  show  that  they  cared  little  for  home. 

Nat's  love  of  home,  then,  was  a  good  omen.  It 
was  not  a  discredit  to  him  to  long  to  get  back 
again  to  his  father  and  mother.  It  was  the  evi- 
dence of  an  obedient,  affectionate,  amiable  son. 

After  the  conversation  between  the  agent  and 
Nat's  father,  the  latter  went  home  to  consult  his 
wife  upon  the  subject.  He  related  to  her  the  sub- 
stance of  his  conversation  with  the  agent,  and 
waited  her  reply. 

"  I  hardly  know  what  to  say,"  said  she.    "  Nat 


88  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

is  only  twelve  years  old,  and  needs  all  the  schooling 
he  can  get.  His  teachers  have  said  so  much  to  me 
about  his  talents,  and  their  wish  that  he  might  bo 
educated,  that  I  have  hoped,  and  almost  expected, 
some  unforeseen  way  might  be  opened  for  his  love  of 
study  to  be  gratified." 

"  That  is  entirely  out  of  the  question,  I  think," 
replied  her  husband.  "  The  time  has  come,  too, 
when  he  must  earn  something  for  his  support.  I 
see  not  how  we  can  get  along  and  keep  him  at 
school.  He  loves  his  becks  I  know,  and  I  should  be 
very  glad  to  see  him  enjoy  them,  but  poor  folks 
must  do  as  they  can  and  not  as  they  want  to." 

"  Yery  true ;  but  it  is  so  hard  to  think  that  his 
schooling  must  end  here,  when  ho  is  only  a  little 
boy.  I  don't  know  but  it  would  break  his  heart  to 
be  told  that  he  could  go  to  school  no  more." 

"  He  need  not  be  told  that"  added  her  husband. 
"  He  may  not  know  but  that  he  will  go  to  school 
again  at  some  future  day." 

"  It  will  be  difficult  to  satisfy  him  on  that  point, 
if  we  keep  honesty  on  our  side.  You  are  not  with 
him  so  much  as  I  am,  so  that  you  do  not  know  how 
inquisitive  he  is,  nor  how  much  he  talks  about  his 
books,  and  getting  learning.  The  first  thing  he 
will  think  of  will  be,  whether  he  will  go  to  school 
any  more.  He  knows  that  factory  boys  are  de- 
prived of  this  privilege,  and  as  he  is  to  become  a 
factory  boy,  his  inference  will  bo  that  there,  is  no 
more  schooling:  for  him." 


THE    END    OF    SCHOOL-DAYS.  89 

"  Well,  it  must  come  to  that,  and  he  may  as  well 
know  it  first  as  last.  But  I  do  not  apprehend 
that  he  will  lay  it  seriously  to  heart,  for  he  is 
always  ready  to  do  what  his  parents  think  is  best. 
I  think  he  is  remarkable  for  that." 

"  I  think  so  too  ;  and  I  shall  rely  more  upon  his 
disposition  in  this  respect  to  be  reconciled  to  the 
privation  of  school,  than  upon  any  thing  else.  I 
think  if  the  subject  is  brought  before  him  at  the 
right  time,  and  in  the  right  way,  I  can  convince 
him  it  is  for  the  best,  and  I  am  sure  he  will  be 
ready  to  do  what  will  be  best  for  all  of  us." 

The  conclusion  of  the  matter  was  that  Nat 
should  enter  the  factory  on  Monday,  and  that  his 
mother  should  open  the  subject  to  him  as  soon  as 
he  came  home. 


CHAPTER    IX. 

OPENING    THE    SUBJECT. 

THE  DOOR  suddenly  opened,  and  in  rushed 
Nat,  under  great  excitement,  with  his  eyes  "  as 
large  as  saucers,"  to  use  a  hyperbole,  which  means 
only  that  his  eyes  looked  very  large  indeed. 

"  Sam  Drake  has  killed  little  Trip,"  said  he  to 
his  mother. 

"  Killed  Trip  !  "  reiterated  his  mother,  with  great 
surprise. 

"  Yes ;  he  kicked  him  down  the  steep  side  of 
Prospect  Hill,  and  he  is  stone  dead." 

"  What  did  he  do  that  for  ?  Had  he  any  trouble 
with  Frank  ?  " 

"  No,  mother ;  he  did  it  because  he  is  an  ugly 
boy,  and  for  nothing  else.  He  is  always  doing 
some  wrong  thing.  The  teacher  told  him  the  other 
day  that  he  had  more  difficulty  with  the  scholars 
than  all  the  other  boys  put  together.  Frank  and 
I  did  n't  want  he  should  go  with  us ;  but  he  and 

(90) 


OPENING    THE    SUBJECT.  91 

Ben  came  along  and  went  without  being  asked  to 
go." 

"  They  are  very  bad  boys,"  added  his  mother, 
u  and  I  am  afraid  they  will  make  bad  men.  It 
is  well  known  that  they  are  disobedient  at  home, 
and  cause  their  parents  a  great  deal  of  trouble, 
Sam  especially." 

"  And  such  swearers  I  never  heard  in  my  life," 
continued  Nat.  u  Every  third  word  Sam  speaks  is 
profane.  And  he  is  vulgar  too.  I  wish  you  knew 
how  bad  he  is." 

"  I  hope  you  will  avoid  his  company  as  much  as 
possible.  Treat  him  properly,  but  have  as  little  to 
say  to  him  as  you  can.  I  have  been  told  that  he 
spends  much  of  his  time  at  the  stable  and  tavern, 
where  he  hears  much  profane  and  vulgar  talk. 
Boys  ought  not  to  visit  such  places.  By  and  by 
he  will  be  smoking  and  drinking  as  bad  as  any 
of  them." 

"  He  smokes  now,"  said  Nat ;  "  and  he  told 
Charlie  one  day  that  a  boy  could  never  be  a  man 
till  he  could  smoke  a  4  long  nine  '." 

"  I  hope  you  will  never  be  a  man,  then,"  said 
his  mother.  "  When  a  boy  gets  to  going  to  the 
tavern  to  smoke  and  swear,  he  is  almost  sure  to 
drink,  and  become  a  ruined  man." 

"  I  never  do  smoke,  mother.  I  never  go  to  the 
stable  nor  tavern,  I  don't  associate  with  Sam  and 
Ben  Drake,  nor  with  James  Cole,  nor  with  Oliver 


92  THE   BOBBIN    BOY. 

Fowle,  more  than  I  can  help.  For  I  know  they 
are  bad  boys.  I  see  that  the  worst  scholars  at 
school  are  those  who  are  said  to  disobey  their 
parents,  and  every  one  of  them  are  poor  scholars, 
and  they  use  profane  language." 

"  That  is  very  true,  Nat,"  said  his  mother.  "  I 
am  glad  you  take  notice  of  these  things.  Bad  boys 
make  bad  men ;  always  remember  that.  Be  very 
careful  about  the  company  you  keep,  for  the  Bible 
says,  '  evil  communications  corrupt  good  manners.' 
You  know  how  to  behave  well,  and  if  you  do  as 
well  as  you  can,  you  will  be  respected  by  all  who 
know  you." 

"  But,  mother,"  asked  Nat,  "  may  I  go  over  to 
Frank's  house,  and  help  him  bury  Trip  ?  I  won't 
be  gone  long." 

"  Yes,  you  may  go,  but  it  will  be  tea-time  in  an 
hour,  and  you  must  be  back  then." 

Out  ran  Nat  in  a  hurry,  for  he  had  stayed  longer 
to  converse  with  his  mother  than  he  meant  to  have 
done,  and  he  was  afraid  Frank  would  get  tired  of 
waiting.  He  left  Frank  at  the  corner  of  the  street, 
to  wait  until  he  ran  home  to  ask  his  mother's  per- 
mission to  go  with  him  to  bury  the  dog.  Now, 
many  boys  would  have  gone  without  taking  this 
trouble.  They  would  have  taken  the  permission 
to  go  to  Prospect  Hill,  to  cover  going  to  Frank's 
house  also.  But  Nat  would  not  do  this.  It  would 
be  taking  advantage  of  his  mother's  kindness.     Hq 


OPENING   THE   SUBJECT.  93 

was  never  in  the  habit  of  going  away  even  to  the 
nearest  neighbor's  without  permission.  Such  boys 
as  Sam  Drake  are  all  over  the  neighborhood,  and 
sometimes  go  even  further,  without  consulting  their 
parents.  Yery  often  their  parents  do  not  know 
where  they  are.  If  one  of  their  associates  should 
run  home  for  permission  to  do  a  given  thing,  as 
Nat  did,  such  a  fellow  as  Sam  Drake  would  be 
likely  to  say, 

"  I  should  like  to  see  myself  asking  the  old 
woman  (his  mother)  to  go  there.  If  I  wanted  to 
go,  I  should  go.  What  does  a  woman  know  about 
boys?  I  wouldn't  be  a  baby  all  my  days.  If  a 
fellow  can't  have  his  own  way,  I  would  n't  give  a 
snap  to  live.  Permission  or  no  permission,  I  would 
have  the  old  folks  know  that  I  shall  be  my  own 
man  sometimes." 

This  is  not  manly  independence,  but  youthful 
disobedience  and  recklessness,  that  lead  to  ruin. 
All  good  people  look  with  manifest  displeasure  upon 
such  an  ungovernable  spirit,  and  expect  such  boys 
will  find  an  early  home  in  a  prison. 

When  Nat  reached  the  corner  of  the  street,  he 
found  that  Frank  had  gone,  so  he  hastened  on,  and 
was  soon  at  Mr.  Martin's  (Frank's  father). 

"  I  waited  a  few  minutes,"  said  Frank,  as  he  met 
Nat  at  the  door,  "  and  then  I  thought  I  would  run 
on  and  get  all  things  ready." 

"  I  was  afraid  that  I  had  kept  you  waiting  so 


94  THE    BOBBIN    BOY. 

long  that  you  got  out  of  patience,"  added  Nat. 
"  But  I  stopped  to  tell  mother  about  it,  and  she 
had  considerable  to  say." 

Frank  had  related  the  circumstances  of  Trip's 
death  to  his  mother  before  Nat's  arrival,  and  re- 
ceived her  consent  to  bury  the  dog  at  the  foot  of 
the  garden. 

"  Come,  now,  let  us  run  into  the  wood-shed  for  a 
box,"  said  Frank  ;  "  I  have  one  there  full  of  blocks 
that  is  just  about  right  to  put  Trip  into." 

"  Then  you  mean  he  shall  have  a  coffin  ?  I 
thought  you  would  tumble  him  into  his  grave  as 
they  do  dead  soldiers  on  battle-fields." 

"  Not  I.  I  have  more  respect  for  a  good  dead 
dog  than  that.  Look  here,  is  not  that  a  capital 
box  for  it  ?  "  So  saying  he  took  up  a  small  box 
full  of  blocks,  that  had  once  served  him  for  play- 
things, and  having  taken  the  blocks  out,  he  pro- 
ceeded to  lay  Trip  therein.  His  body  just  filled 
the  box,  as  if  it  were  made  on  purpose ;  and 
having  nailed  on  the  lid,  they  proceeded  with  it  to 
the  foot  of  the  garden.  They  were  not  long  in 
digging  a  grave,  and  soon  the  remains  of  Trip 
were  decently  interred.  As  the  last  shovel-full  of 
dirt  was  thrown  on,  Nat  gave  utterance  to  a  part 
of  a  declamation  which  he  had  spoken  in  school 
two  weeks  before.  The  portion  he  repeated  was  as 
follows : 


OPENING   THE   SUBJECT.  95 

"Not  a  drum  was  heard,  nor  a  funeral  note, 
As  his  corse  to  the  ramparts  we  hurried ; 
Not  a  soldier  discharged  his  farewell  shot, 
O'er  the  grave  where  our  hero  we  buried. 

a  Slowly  and  sadly  we  laid  him  down, 

Frcin  the  field  of  his  fame  fresh  and  gory , 
We  carved  not  a  line,  we  raised  not  a  stone, 
But  left  him  alone  with  his  glory." 

Frank  smiled  for  the  first  time  since  Trip  wa» 
kicked  down  the  precipice,  and  said, 

"  Nat,  you  are  always  getting  off  your  oratory  ; 
and  I  really  think  the  occasion  deserves  a  burst  of 
eloquence.  Poor  Trip  will  never  play  hy-spy  again  ; 
our  good  times  with  him  are  over." 

"  There,  now  I  must  hurry  home  to  supper," 
said  Nat,  "  mother  will  be  waiting ;  so  good-night 
till  Monday." 

Away  he  bounded  homeward,  and  was  just  in 
season  for  his  supper.  After  a  thorough  washing 
of  face  and  hands,  he  sat  down  to  the  table  with  as 
keen  an  appetite  as  he  ever  had,  his  afternoon  ex- 
cursion having  given  him  a  good  relish  for  food. 
The  conversation  naturally  turned  upon  the  fate  of 
Trip,  and  the  whole  account  of  the  tragedy  was 
gone  over  again,  with  such  comments  thereon  as 
each  one  was  disposed  to  make. 

"  I  have  a  very  difficult  lesson  in  arithmetic  to 
dig  out  to-night  for  Monday,"  said  Nat,  as  he  rose 
from  the  table. 


9G  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

"  Perhaps  you  will  not  be  called  upon  io  recite 
the  lesson,"  replied  his  mother. 

"  Any  scholar  who  gets  rid  of  reciting  a  lesson 
which  this  teacher  gives  him  must  be  one  of  the 
favorites,"  said  Nat,  not  being  the  least  suspicious 
that  his  mother  was  going  to  communicate  any 
thing  unpleasant.  "For  one,  I  want  to  recite  it, 
after  I  have  mastered  it,  and  I  know  that  I  can 
master  it.  At  any  rate,  I  shall  not  give  up  beat 
until  I  have  tried." 

"  Then  you  mean  to  belong  to  the  '  try  company ' 
a  while  longer  ?  "  interrupted  his  mother. 

"  Yes,  mother  ;  the  teacher  read  us  some  capital 
verses  the  other  day  on  '  I  '11  try,'  and  she  told  a 
number  of  stories  to  illustrate  what  had  been  ac- 
complished by  trying." 

"  Your  purpose  is  very  good  indeed,  Nat,  and  I 
am  sorry  that  we  are  not  able  to  give  you  better 
advantages.  But  did  you  know  that  your  services 
are  in  great  demand  ?  The  agent  of  the  factory 
has  been  after  you  this  afternoon." 

"  For  what  ?  "  asked  Nat,  with  great  surprise. 

"  To  work  in  the  factory  to  be  sure.  He  wants 
a  '  bobbin  boy '  very  much,  and  thinks  that  you 
will  make  a  good  one  ;  what  do  you  say  to  it  ?  " 

"  You  did  n't  tell  him  that  I  would  go,  did  you  ?  " 

"  Well,  your  father  and  I  have  talked  the  matter 
over,  and  concluded  that  it  will  be  necessary  for  you 
to  do  something  for  a  living.     We  are  poor,  and 


OPENING   THE   SUBJECT.  97 

your  father  does  not  see  how  he  can  support  the 
family  and  keep  you  in  school.  The  agent  will 
give  you  two  dollars  a  week,  and  this  will  be  a  great 
help  to  us." 

"  You  can't  mean,  mother,  that  I  am  not  to  go 
to  school  any  more  ?  "  inquired  Nat. 

"  We  do  not  know  what  may  yet  transpire  in 
your  favor,  hut  for  the  present,  at  least,  your  school- 
ing must  cease." 

Nat  was  almost  overcome  at  this  announcement, 
and  his  lips  fairly  quivered.  His  mother  felt  as 
badly  as  he  did,  though  she  exerted  herself  to  con- 
ceal her  emotion.     At  length  she  went  on  to  say, 

"  I  do  not  expect  you  will  accede  to  this  plan 
without  a  struggle  with  your  love  of  study,  but  if  it 
is  best  for  us  all  that  you  should  leave  school  and 
work  in  a  factory,  you  can  do  it  cheerfully,  can 
you  not  ?  " 

"  I  can  do  it,"  answered  Nat,  "  but  not  cheer- 
fully." 

"  I  did  not  mean  exactly  that,  when  I  spoke  ;  for 
I  expect  you  will  do  it  only  because  our  necessities 
make  that  change  best." 

"  When  does  the  agent  want  I  should  begin  ?  " 
inquired  Nat. 

"  On  Monday.    It  is  very  short  notice,  but  you  may 

as  well  begin  then  as  any  time.     There  is  one  thing 

to  be  thought  of  for  your  advantage.     You  love  to 

read,  and  the  manufacturing  comoany  have  a  good 

7 


98  THE   BOBBIN    BOY. 

library  for  the  operatives.  You  can  take  out  booksr 
and  read  evenings." 

"  There  will  be  scarcely  any  time  for  me  to  read 
after  coming  out  of  the  factory  at  seven  o'clock  : 
and  besides,  after  working  from  five  o'clock  in  the 
morning  until  seven  at  night,  I  think  I  shall  like 
the  bed  better  than  books." 

"  You  will  find  as  much  time  to  acquire  knowl- 
edge as  ever  Dr.  Franklin  did,  and  many  othei 
men  who  have  been  distinguished ;  and  that  is 
some  encouragement." 

"  Last  winter  our  teacher  told  Frank  and  I  about 
Patrick  Henry  and  Dr.  Franklin,  and  he  said  that 
boys  now  have  far  better  advantages.  Do  yon  sup- 
pose that  the  life  of  Dr.  Franklin  or  the  life  of  Pat- 
rick Henry  will  be  in  the  library  at  the  factory  ?  " 

"  I  have  no  doubt  that  both  of  them  are  there, 
and  you  can  take  the  first  opportunity  to  draw  one 
of  them  out." 

This  last  suggestion  was  a  very  important  one 
to  Nat.  The  prospect  of  having  access  to  a  good 
library  made  Nat  almost  willing  to  go  into  the  fac- 
tory. At  any  rate,  after  thinking  the  matter  over, 
and  becoming  convinced  that  it  was  best  for  the 
family,  as  his  mother  said,  that  he  should  become  a 
bobbin  boy,  and  weighing  the  advantage  of  having 
a  library  te  visit,  he  was  quite  reconciled  to  the  ar- 
rangement. He  was  the  eldest  of  the  children,  a 
large   family,  and   it   seemed   reasonable   that  he 


OPENING   THE    SUBJECT.  99 

sh  nil!  bs  required  to  do  something  for  a  livelihood, 
if  necessity  demanded.  He  knew  very  well  that 
his  parents  would  not  have  made  such  an  arrange- 
ment, unless  their  low  circumstances  had  forced 
them  to  it.  Both  of  them  highly  valued  a  good 
school,  and  were  interested  in  the  education  of  their 
children,  but  their  desires  could  not  be  gratified. 

Saturday  evening  wore  away,  and  the  family  dis- 
persed for  nightly  repose.  The  last  thoughts  of 
Nat,  ere  he  resigned  himself  to  the  arms  of  Mor- 
pheus, were  of  school  and  bobbins. 


CHAPTER    X. 

THE    NEW    CALL. 

MONDAY  MORNING  came  to  Nat,  seemingly, 
before  Sunday  had  time  to  get  by.  Thirty- 
six  hours  scarcely  ever  passed  away  so  rapidly  to 
him  before.  But  it  found  him  ready.  He  was  one 
of  the  few  boys  who  are  always  on  hand,  whether  it 
was  for  school,  or  any  thing  else.  Teachers  never 
complained  of  him  for  being  tardy,  for  they  never 
had  occasion  to  do  it ;  and  he  was  as  prompt  to  re- 
cite his  lessons  as  he  was  to  be  in  school  at  nine 
o'clock.  He  was  punctual  to  a  second.  If  his 
mother  told  him  to  be  at  home  at  a  given  time  from 
an  afternoon  visit  or  ramble,  he  was  sure  to  be  on 
the  mark.  He  performed  errands  on  the  same 
principle,  and  never  had  to  be  called  twice  in  the 
morning.  The  fact  is,  there  was  not  a  lazy  bone  in 
his  whole  body ;  each  finger,  toe,  joint,  and  muscle, 
seemed  to  understand  that  it  was  made  for  action, 
and  that  it  must  hold  itself  in  readiness  to  obey  or- 

(100) 


THE   NEW   CALL.  101 

ders.  His  will,  too,  was  king  of  his  faculties,  and 
not  one  of  them  would  have  presumed  to  disobey 
its  ruler.  The  first  little  finger  that  would  have 
dared  to  say  "wo"  to  his  mandates,  would  have 
fared  severely  for  its  presumption. 

Now,  such  a  boy  would  not  find  it  so  difficult  to 
rise  early  in  the  morning,  at  a  precise  time,  to  work 
in  a  factory,  as  a  lazy  one  would.  A  lazy  boy,  who 
had  been  accustomed  to  get  up  when  he  pleased, 
and  consequently  was  seldom  ready  to  breakfast 
with  the  rest  of  the  family,  would  have  a  hard  time 
in  breaking  into  such  a  factory  life.  The  bodies  of 
these  indolent  fellows  seldom  wake  up  all  at  once. 
After  their  eyes  are  fairly  awake  by  much  rubbing, 
opening,  and  shutting,  their  limbs  have  to  be  coaxed 
and  persuaded  to  start.  Now  they  think  they  will 
start  up  in  just  one  minute,  but  the  lazy  body  re- 
fuses, and  one  minute  passes,  and  then  another, 
until,  sometimes,  a  whole  hour  is  lost  in  the  futile 
attempts  of  a  weak  will  to  make  the  limbs  mind 
and  get  up.  But  Nat's  will  was  law  to  his  mem- 
bers. 

He  had  been  accustomed  to  hear  the  factory  bell 
of  his  native  village  call  others,  but  it  never  called 
him  before.  For  this  reason,  he  had  never  thought 
much  about  its  tones,  nor  hardly  stopped  to  con- 
sider that  its  call  was  very  early.  But  now  its  very 
sound  was  different.  It  seemed  to  understand  that 
Nat  was  to  be  called,  and  it  did  not  require  a  very 


102  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

flighty  imagination  in  him  to  perceive  that  it  said 
Nat,  as  plainly  as  any  bell  could.  He  was  on  his 
feet  in  a  moment.  He  did  not  wait  for  the  bell  to 
call  twice,  any  more  than  he  did  for  his  parents  to 
call  twice.  Every  part  of  him  waked  up  at  once, 
from  his  head  to  his  feet.  His  feet  were  as  wide 
awake  as  his  eyes,  as  any  person  would  have  in- 
ferred who  had  seen  them  start  from  the  bed.  If 
the  bell  had  no  harder  case  to  arouse,  it  might  have 
done  its  work  with  half  the  noise,  and  thus  saved  a 
great  quantity  of  sound  for  special  occasions,  such 
as  the  fourth  of  July. 

He  was  about  the  first  to  reach  the  factory  on 
Monday  morning. 

"  Hurrah !  the  bobbin  boy  is  on  hand,"  said  the 
overseer  as  he  entered. 

"  Yes,  sir !  "  was  Nat's  short  and  modest  reply. 

"  You  'd  rather  go  to  school,  I  suppose,"  contin- 
ued the  overseer,  "  than  to  carry  bobbins  ?  " 

"  I  had,"  answered  Nat,  "  though  I  can  do  what 
is  for  the  best." 

"  That's  right.  If  everybody  would  do  that,  we 
should  have  a  different  world  to  live  in." 

The  overseer  said  what  he  did  to  Nat,  because  he 
knew,  as  everybody  else  did  in  the  village,  that  the 
boy  loved  his  books.  His  brightness,  and  inclina- 
tion to  study,  were  themes  of  frequent  remark 
among  the  people.  In  the  school-room,  his  manner 
of  acquitting   himself    attracted    the    attention   of 


THE   NEW   CALL.  103 

visitors.  The  teachers  regarded  him  as  a  very 
promising  boy,  and  often  spoke  of  his  talents.  In 
this  way,  he  was  known  generally  in  the  commu- 
nity for  his  "  intellectual  turn."  This  explains  the 
remark  of  the  overseer  about  his  loving  school  bet- 
ter than  the  factory. 

One  great  surprise  awaited  Nat  on  that  day.  He 
found  that  Charlie  Stone  also  became  a  factory 
operative  on  that  morning.  He  did  not  know  that 
Charlie  expected  to  engage  in  this  new  business, 
nor  did  Charlie  know  that  Nat  did.  Indeed,  it  was 
unexpected  to  both  of  them,  since  the  agent  made 
the  arrangement  with  their  fathers  late  on  Saturday 
afternoon.  The  meeting  of  the  two  boys,  therefore, 
in  their  new  sphere  of  toil,  was  the  occasion  of 
mutual  astonishment. 

Charlie  Stone  was  just  the  age  of  Nat  —  twelve 
years  old  —  and  was  as  good  a  boy  as  the  neighbor- 
hood afforded.  His  father  was  poor,  very  poor 
indeed,  and  could  not  support  his  family  by  his  own 
labor,  so  that  Charlie  was  compelled  to  lend  a  help- 
ing hand,  which  he  was  willing  to  do.  He  was 
a  very  amiable  boy,  retiring  and  modest,  a  good 
scholar  and  associate.  He  was  on  intimate  terms 
with  Nat,  so  that  their  mothers  used  to  say  they 
were  "  great  cronies."  We  have  seen  that  they 
were  in  the  same  classes  in  school,  and  Charlie  was 
really  as  good  a  scholar  as  Nat,  though  he  had  not 
the  faculty  of  using  his  knowledge  to  so  good  ad- 


104  THE   BOBBIN    BOY. 

vantage.  He  was  a  great  reader,  and  he  probably 
read  much  more  than  Nat  in  the  course  of  a  year. 
There  is  a  great  difference  in  boys,  as  well  as  men, 
about  the  ability  to  use  the  information  acquired. 
One  boy  may  thoroughly  master  his  lessons,  and 
fully  understand  the  books  he  reads,  and  improve 
every  moment  of  his  time,  and  yet  not  be  able  to 
make  his  acquisitions  tell  so  much  as  another  of 
smaller  attainments.  His  memory  may  not  be  reten- 
tive, and  he  may  be  kept  back  by  a  distrust  of  his 
own  ability  to  do,  —  too  bashful  and  timid  to  press 
forward.  This  was  the  case  with  Charlie.  Nat,  on 
the  other  hand,  possessed  a  remarkable  memory, 
together  with  a  peculiar  faculty  to  use  his  attain- 
ments to  the  best  advantage.  When  he  made  an 
acquisition  he  knew  how  to  use  it.  Every  attain- 
ment seemed  to  run  into  wisdom  and  character,  as 
the  juices  of  the  tree  run  into  buds  and  fruit.  Very 
small  advantages  appeared  thereby  to  produce  great 
results  in  his  favor.  Every  one  who  knew  him 
would  agree,  that  what  Richter  said  of  himself  was 
equally  true  of  Nat,  "  I  have  made  as  much  out  of 
myself  as  could  be  made  of  the  stuff,  and  no  man 
should  require  more." 

It  was  fortunate,  on  the  whole,  that  these  two 
boys  entered  the  factory  together,  for  both  of  them 
became  more  reconciled  to  their  condition  than  they 
otherwise  would  have  been.  They  were  company 
for    each    other,    and,   if    possible,   became  more 


THE   NEW    CALL.  105 

strongly  attached  to  each  other  in  consequence. 
They  had  no  opportunity,  during  the  forenoon,  to 
converse  with  each  other  concerning  the  manner  of 
their  having  entered  the  factory.  But  as  soon  as 
the  rattling  machinery  silenced  its  clatter  for  the 
dinner  hour,  the  subject  was  talked  over  until  both 
fairly  understood  it. 

44  Come,"  said  Nat,  as  they  passed  out  of  the 
factory,  "let  us  step  into  the  office  and  see  when 
we  can  take  out  books." 

"  Perhaps  Dr.  Holt  (the  agent)  has  gone  to  his 
dinner  ?  " 

"  We  '11  see,"  added  Nat.  So  saying  they  both 
walked  into  the  office. 

"  What  is  wanted,  boys  ?  "  inquired  the  doctor, 
who  was  there,  and  he  smiled  upon  them  so  be- 
nign an  tly  that  they  could  not  but  feel  at  home. 

"  We  stepped  in,  sir,  to  inquire  when  we  could 
take  books  out  of  the  library,"  answered  Nat. 

"  To-night,  my  lads,  as  soon  as  the  factory  stops. 
So  it  seems  you  are  going  to  improve  your  spare 
moments  reading  ? " 

"  Yes,  sir,"  replied  both  of  them  together. 

"  That  is  right.  It  is  not  the  worst  berth  in  the 
world  to  be  a  factory  boy,  especially  if  there  is  a 
good  library  to  use.  Two  hours  a  day  in  reading 
will  do  a  great  deal  for  a  boy.  Most  of  the  young 
people  waste  time  enough  to  acquire  an  education, 
if  it  were  only  well  improved.      You  will  have  more 


106  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

time  for  self-improvement  than  William  Cobbett 
had  in  his  youth  —  that  distinguished  member  of 
the  British  Parliament,  of  whom  so  much  has  been 
said  in  the  papers  of  late." 

The  doctor  was  an  intelligent,  well-read  man, 
affable  and  kind,  and  deeply  interested  in  the  wel- 
fare of  those  over  whom  he  had  an  oversight.  The 
boys  particularly  shared  his  tender  sympathies, 
especially  such  bright  ones  as  the  two  who  stood 
before  him.  His  words  were  uttered  in  such  a  way 
as  to  go  straight  to  the  heart  of  an  enterprising  lad. 
They  were  words  of  cheer  and  hope,  such  as  give 
spirit  and  pluck  to  a  poor  fellow  whose  experience 
is  shadowy,  to  say  the  least.  More  than  one  boy  has 
had  occasion  to  remember  the  doctor  with  gratitude. 
His  allusion  to  William  Cobbett,  really  contained 
more  information  than  he  imparted,  as  the  follow- 
ing account  which  Cobbett  published  of  himself 
will  show :  — 

"  I  learned  grammar,"  said  he,  "  when  I  was  a 
private  soldier  on  the  pay  of  sixpence  a  day.  The 
edge  of  my  berth,  or  that  of  my  guard-bed,  was  my 
seat  to  study  in  ;  my  knapsack  was  my  book-case ; 
a  bit  of  board  lying  on  my  lap  was  my  writing 
table  ;  and  the  task  did  not  demand  any  thing  like 
a  year  of  my  life.  I  had  no  money  to  purchase 
candle  or  oil ;  in  winter  time  it  was  rarely  that  I  could 
get  any  evening  light  but  that  of  the  fire,  and  only 
my  turn  of  even  that.     And  if  I,  under  such  cir- 


THE   NEW   CALL.  107 

cumstances,  and  without  parent  or  friend  to  advise 
or  encourage  me,  accomplished  this  undertaking, 
what  excuse  can  there  be  tor  any  youth,  however 
poor,  however  pressed  with  business,  or  however 
circumstanced  as  to  room  or  other  conveniences  ? 
To  buy  a  pen  or  a  sheet  of  paper  I  was  compelled 
to  forego  some  portion  of  food,  though  in  a  state 
of  half  starvation  ;  I  had  no  moment  of  time  that  I 
could  call  my  own ;  and  I  had  to  read  and  write 
amidst  the  talking,  laughing,  singing,  whistling,  and 
brawling  of  at  least  half  a  score  of  the  most  thought- 
less of  men,  and  that,  too,  in  the  hours  of  their 
freedom  from  all  control.  Think  not  lightly  of  the 
farthing  that  I  had  to  give,  now  and  then,  for  ink, 
pen,  or  paper !  That  farthing  was,  alas !  a  great 
sum  to  me !  I  was  as  tall  as  I  am  now  ;  I  had 
great  health  and  great  exercise.  The  whole  of  the 
money,  not  expended  for  us  at  market,  was  two- 
pence a  week  for  each  man.  I  remember,  and  well 
I  may,  that  on  one  occasion  I,  after  all  necessary 
expenses,  had,  on  Friday,  made  shifts  to  have  a 
halfpenny  in  reserve,  which  I  had  destined  for  the 
purchase  of  a  red  herring  in  the  morning ;  but 
when  I  pulled  off  my  clothes  at  night,  so  hungry 
then  as  to  be  hardly  able  to  endure  life,  I  found 
that  I  had  lost  my  halfpenny  !  I  buried  my  head 
under  the  miserable  sheet  and  rug,  and  cried  like  a 
child !  And  again  I  say,  if  I,  under  circumstances 
like  these,  could  encounter  and  overcome  this  task, 


108  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

is  there,  can  there  be,  in  the  whole  world,  a  youth 
to  find  an  excuse  for  the  non-performance  ?  " 

Nat  had  no  time  to  converse  with  his  parents  at 
noon  concerning  his  new  business  —  his  time  was 
occupied,  after  dinner,  until  the  factory  bell  rung, 
in  giving  a  history  of  his  surprise  at  meeting  Char- 
lie there.  His  parents  were  surprised  too,  as  they 
had  not  heard  that  he  intended  to  work  in  the  mill. 

u  I  am  glad  for  you,"  said  his  mother,  "  that 
Charlie  is  to  work  with  you,  though  I  am  sorry 
that  his  parents  are  so  poor  as  to  make  it  necessary. 
Charlie  is  a  noble  boy,  and  I  know  you  have  a 
good  companion  when  you  have  him." 

"  We  can  take  books  from  the  library  to-night," 
said  Nat. 

"  And  what  one  are  you  going  to  take  out  ? " 
inquired  his  mother. 

"  The  Life  of  Patrick  Henry,"  was  his  quick 
reply. 

"  What  is  there  about  Patrick  Henry  that  in- 
terests you  in  his  life  ?  " 

"  He  was  a  great  orator  and  statesman,  and 
made  himself  so  by  improving  his  time,  so  the 
teacher  told  us  last  winter." 

Nat  was  obliged  to  hasten  back  to  the  factory  at 
the  call  of  the  bell,  so  that  a  period  was  put  to  the 
conversation  very  suddenly.  His  work  in  the  fac- 
tory was  to  carry  bobbins  around  to  the  operatives 
as  fast  as  they  wanted  them,  and  hence  he  was 


THE   NEW   CALL.  109 

called  "The  Bobbin  Boy."  It  was  rather  light 
work,  though  he  was  often  obliged  to  step  around 
quite  lively,  which  he  could  do  without  much 
trouble,  since  he  was  none  of  your  half-way  boys- 
His  movements  were  quick,  and  what  he  did  he 
did  with  all  his  heart,  with  only  occasional  excep- 
tions. A  smart,  wide-awake,  active  boy  could 
carry  bobbins  to  better  advantage  than  a  clumsy 
man  in  meridian  life.  Nat  carried  them  as  if  he 
were  made  on  purpose  for  the  business.  It  was 
difficult  to  tell  which  he  did  best,  carry  bobbins  or 
speak  pieces.  He  did  both,  as  a  looker-on  said, 
"  in  apple-pie  order,"  which  means,  I  suppose, 
about  as  well  as  they  could  be  done  by  one  of  his 
age. 

At  the  close  of  the  day,  when  the  boys  came  to 
take  out  books,  Nat  found  that  the  life  of  Patrick 
Henry  was  out,  so  he  took  the  life  of  Dr.  Franklin, 
without  feeling  much  disappointed.  He  was  so 
anxious  to  read  both  of  these  volumes  that  he 
cared  but  little  which  he  read  first. 

"  That  you,  Nat  ?  "  exclaimed  David  Sears,  with 
whom  Nat  met  on  his  way  home  from  the  factory. 
"  What 's  got  you  to-day  ?  We  missed  you  and 
Charlie  at  school." 

"  Done  going  to  school,"  answered  Nat.  "  We 
are  going  to  finish  our  education  in  the  factory." 

"  You  have  graduated  in  a  hurry,  it  seems  to 
me.  But  you  don't  mean  that  you  are  not  going 
to  school  any  more,  do  you  ?  " 


110  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

"  Why,  yes ;  I  think  that  will  really  be  the  case,, 
though  I  hope  for  the  best,"  replied  Nat.  "  Per- 
haps I  may  go  again  after  a  while." 

"  It  is  really  too  bad,"  continued  David.  "  I 
wish  the  factory  was  a  thousand  miles  off.  It  is  a 
pretty  hard  case  to  be  tied  up  to  a  factory  bell 
every  day,  and  work  from  five  o'clock  in  the  morn- 
ing till  seven  at  night." 

"  I  don't  care  much  about  the  bell,"  replied  Nat. 
"  I  can  get  up  as  early  as  the  man  who  rings  it,  I 
know.  And  then  it  is  capital  to  make  one  punc- 
tual. There  is  no  chance  for  delays  when  the  bell 
calls  —  a  fellow  must  be  on  the  mark." 

Nat  struck  upon  a  very  important  thought  here. 
Punctuality  is  a  cardinal  virtue,  and  the  earlier  a 
person  learns  to  be  punctual  the  better  it  is  for 
him.  Being  obliged  to  obey  the  summons  of  a  bell 
at  just  such  a  minute  aids  in  establishing  the  habit 
of  punctuality.  Hence,  the  modern  rules  of  the 
school-room,  requiring  pupils  to  be  there  at  a  pre- 
cise hour,  and  to  recite  their  lessons  at  such  a 
minute,  are  very  valuable  to  the  young.  Pupils 
who  form  the  habit  of  getting  to  school  any  time  in 
the  morning,  though  usually  late,  are  generally 
behind  time  all  the  way  through  life.  They  make 
the  men  and  women  who  are  late  at  meeting,  late 
to  meet  their  business  engagements,  late  every- 
where—  a  tardy,  dilatory,  inefficient  class  of  per- 
sons, wherever  they  are  found.     It  is  good  to  be 


THE   NEW    CALL.  Ill 

obliged  to  plan  and  do  by  car-time.  The  man  who 
is  obliged  to  keep  his  watch  by  railroad  time,  and 
then  make  all  things  bend  to  the  same,  is  more 
likely  to  form  the  habit  of  being  punctual,  than  he 
who  has  not  a  fixed  moment  for  going  and  coming. 
And  so  it  is  with  the  factory.  The  boy  who  must 
be  up  at  the  first  bell-call,  and  get  to  his  place  of 
toil  at  five  o'clock  in  the  morning,  is  more  likely  to 
be  prompt  in  every  place  and  work.  Nat  was  right. 
It  is  another  instance  of  his  ability  to  perceive  the 
real  tendencies  of  things. 

David  smiled  at  Nat's  view  of  the  matter,  and 
asked,  "  What  book  have  you  there  ?  " 

"  The  life  of  Dr.  Franklin.  You  know  they  have 
a  library  for  the  operatives  in  the  factory,  and  I 
mean  to  make  the  most  of  it." 

"  But  you  won't  get  much  time  to  read,  if  you 
work  in  the  factory  ail  day,  from  Monday  morning 
till  Saturday  night." 

"  I  can  get  two  or  three  hours  in  a  day,  if  I  sit 
up  till  ten  o'clock,  and  that  is  early  enough  for  any- 
body to  go  to  bed.  I  shall  read  this  volume  through 
by  Saturday  night." 

"Well,  you'll  make  the  most  of  it  if  anybody 
can,"  said  David,  laughing,  and  hurrying  on  home- 
wards. 

Nat  commenced  reading  Dr.  Franklin's  life  that 
evening.  It  was  his  first  step  in  a  somewhat  syste- 
matic course  of  reading,  for  which  he  was  indebted 


112  THE   BOBBIN    BOY. 

to  the  manufacturing  company.  But  for  his  fac 
tory  life  he  might  not  have  been  introduced  to 
those  authors  that  gratified  his  desire  for  knowl- 
edge, and  nurtured  in  his  soul  that  energy  and 
perseverance  which  he  was  already  known  to  pos- 
sess. 

His  parents  did  not  converse  much  with  him 
about  his  new  business,  as  they  thought  it  might 
not  be  wise ;  but  they  interested  themselves  in  his 
reading.  His  mother  found  he  was  deeply  absorbed 
in  Franklin's  life,  though  he  said  but  little  of  the 
book,  except  in  reply  to  her  inquiries.  But  he 
seemed  hardly  willing  to  lay  it  aside  at  bed-time, 
and  eagerly  took  it  up  to  read  during  the  few  spare 
moments  he  had  when  he  came  to  his  meals.  The 
book  was  read  through  before  the  next  Sabbath. 


CHAPTER    XI, 

THE    LOFTY    STUDY. 

SOME  TIME  after  Nat  donned  the  bobbin  boy's 
suit,  he  proposed  to  Charlie  to  come  over  and 
spend  his  evenings  with  him  for  mutual  improve- 
ment. 

"  I  have  a  nice  place  to  read  and  study  all  by 
myself,"  said  he,  "  and  I  want  to  talk  over  some 
subjects  we  read  about  with  you.  Besides,  what  do 
you  say  to  studying  mathematics  together  a  portion 
of  the  time  ?  I  think  we  can  get  along  about  as 
well  in  this  branch  as  we  could  to  have  a  teacher. " 

"  I  should  like  it  first  rate,"  answered  Charlie. 
"  Mathematics  is  your  hobby,  and  I  think  I  can 
make  good  improvement  under  your  tuition." 

"  I  don't  propose  to  teach,  sir,"  added  Nat,  "  but 
to  learn.  I  will  get  what  I  can  out  of  you,  and  you 
may  get  what  you  can  out  of  me.  That  is  fair,  I 
am  sure.  You  will  get  what  you  can  out  of  me 
just  as  cheap  as  I  get  what  I  can  out  of  you.  It 
will  not  be  a  very  expensive  school  as  you  see." 

8  (H3) 


114  THE   BOBBIN    BOY. 

"  Agreed,"  said  Charlie.  "  I  will  be  at  your 
house  this  evening  by  the  time  you  are  ready  for 
me." 

Charlie  was  true  to  his  engagement,  and  by  the 
time  Nat  was  ready  to  ascend  to  his  study,  a  rap 
announced  his  arrival.  With  lamp  in  hand,  Nat 
led  the  way  up  two  flights  of  stairs,  and  introduced 
Charlie  into  the  attic,  saying, 

"  This  is  my  study.  I  have  permission  to  use 
this  for  a  sanctum  as  long  as  I  please." 

"  It  is  a  lofty  one,  surely,"  responded  Charlie. 
"  You  can't  get  up  much  higher  in  the  wxorld  if  you 
try." 

"  When  we  get  into  astronomy,  all  we  shall  have 
to  do  will  be  to  bore  a  hole  through  the  roof  to 
make  our  observations.  Could  any  thing  be  more 
convenient  ?  " 

The  reader  need  not  smile  at  Nat's  study.  It 
was  better  than  the  first  one  that  the  renowned  Dr. 
John  Kitto  had.  Like  Nat's,  Kitto's  first  study  was 
in  his  father's  attic,  which  was  only  seven  feet  long 
and  four  feet  wide.  Here  a  two-legged  table,  made 
by  his  grandfather  forty  years  before,  an  old  chest 
in  which  he  kept  his  clothes  and  stationery,  and 
a  chair  that  was  a  very  good  match  for  the  table, 
together  with  what  would  be  called  a  bed  by  a  per- 
son who  had  nothing  better,  constituted  the  furni- 
ture. Also,  the  time-honored  St.  Pierre  was  worse 
off  even  when  he  wrote  his  celebrated  "  Studies  of 


THE   LOFTY    STUDY.  115 

Nature."  His  study  was  a  garret,  less  capacious 
than  that  which  Nat  occupied,  and  there  he  spent 
four  years  of  his  life  in  the  most  laborious  study. 

Night  after  night  Nat  and  Charlie  met  in  the 
aforesaid  attic,  to  read,  study  mathematics,  and  dis- 
cuss the  subjects  of  the  volumes  which  they  read. 
They  made  very  commendable  progress  in  mathe- 
matics, and  probably  kept  in  advance  of  their  com- 
panions who  were  in  school.  Among  the  characters 
who  were  discussed  by  them,  none  received  more 
attention  than  Dr.  Franklin  and  Patrick  Henry. 

"  Which  of  these  characters  do  you  like  best  ?  " 
inquired  Charlie  one  evening. 

"  I  suppose  that  Dr.  Franklin  would  be  considered 
the  best  model ;  but  such  eloquence  as  that  of 
Patrick  Henry  must  have  been  grand.  Dr.  Frank- 
lin was  not  much  of  a  speaker,  though  what  he  said 
was  sound  and  good." 

"  And  Patrick  Henry  was  a  lazy  fellow  when  he 
was  young,"  added  Charlie.  "  You  remember  that 
his  father  set  him  up  in  business  two  or  three  times, 
and  he  failed  because  he  was  too  shiftless  to  attend 
to  it." 

"  Yery  true  ;  and  he  suffered  all  through  life  on 
account  of  not  having  formed  habits  of  industry, 
economy  and  application.  It  shows  what  a  splendid 
man  he  might  have  made,  if  he  had  reduced  Frank- 
lin's rules  to  practice." 

"  Let  us  read  over  those  rules  of  Franklin  again," 
said  Charlie.     "  You  copied  them,  I  believe." 


116  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

Nat  took  up  a  paper,  on  which  the  rules  were 
penned  in  a  handsome  hand,  and  proceeded  to  read 
the  following : 

1.  "Temperance.  —  Eat  not  to  dulness;  drink 
not  to  elevation. 

2.  Silence.  —  Speak  not  but  what  may  benefit 
Dthers  or  yourself;  avoid  trifling  conversation. 

3.  Order. — Let  all  your  things  have  their  places ; 
let  each  part  of  your  business  have  its  time. 

4.  Resolution.  —  Resolve  to  perform  what  you 
ought ;  perform  without  fail  what  you  resolve. 

5.  Frugality.  —Make  no  expense  but  to  do  good 
to  others  or  yourself;  that  is,  waste  nothing. 

6.  Industry. — Lose  no  time;  be  always  em- 
ployed in  something  useful ;  cut  off  all  unnecessary 
actions. 

7.  Sincerity.  —  Use  no  hurtful  deceit;  think  in- 
nocently and  justly ;  and,  if  you  speak,  speak  ac- 
cordingly. 

8.  Justice.  —  Wrong  none  by  doing  injuries,  or 
omitting  the  benefits  that  are  your  duty. 

9.  Moderation.  —  Avoid  extremes  ;  forbear  re- 
senting injuries  as  much  as  you  think  they  deserve. 

10.  Cleanliness.  —  Tolerate  no  uncleanliness  in 
body,  clothes,  or  habitation. 

11.  Tranquillity.  —  Be  not  disturbed  at  trifles, 
or  at  accidents  common  or  unavoidable. 

12.  Humility.  —  Imitate  Jesus  and  Socrates.'7 

"  There  is  scarcely  one  of  those  rules  that  Patrick 


THE   LOFTY    STUDY.  117 

Henry  observed  in  his  youth,"  said  Charlie.  "  After 
he  got  to  be  a  man  grown,  and  his  friends  were  all 
out  of  patience  with  him,  and  he  was  absolutely 
compelled  to  do  something  or  starve,  then  he  began 
to  apply  himself." 

"  Yes  ;  and  what  a  commotion  he  made  !  "  re- 
sponded Nat.  "  That  first  plea  of  his  against  the 
clergy  of  Virginia  on  the  tobacco  Act,  when  he  won 
the  case  against  fearful  odds,  and  the  spectators 
were  so  excited  by  his  oratory  that  they  carried  him 
out  of  the  court  room  on  their  shoulders,  is  the  best 
thing  that  I  ever  read  of  any  orator.  It  was  not  his 
learning  nor  his  argument,  but  his  eloquence  that 
gave  this  power  over  his  hearers." 

"  And  it  was  just  the  reverse  with  Dr.  Franklin," 
said  Charlie.  "  It  was  his  wisdom,  solid  common 
sense,  and  worth  of  character,  that  enabled  him  to 
carry  his  points  ^  and  that  I  think  is  far  more  valu- 
able." 

"  I  learned  one  thing,"  said  Nat,  "  from  the  life 
of  Patrick  Henry,  which  I  never  knew  before,  that 
he  owed  his  final  success  more  to  his  close  observa- 
tion of  men  and  things  than  to  the  study  of  books. 
He  learned  something  from  every  thing  he  saw  and 
heard.  Eye-gate  and  ear-gate  were  always  open. 
He  observed  his  companions  closely  when  he  was 
young,  and  told  stories  to  witness  the  different  feel- 
ings they  would  awaken  in  the  hearts  of  different 
associates.     In  fact,  he  did  not  learn  near  so  much 


118  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

from  books  as  he  did  from  men.  And  afterwards, 
when  he  had  law  students  to  instruct,  one  of  his  les- 
sons was,  '  study  men  and  not  books.'  " 

"  Well,  Nat,  you  are  something  like  him,"  said 
Charlie,  smiling.  "  You  are  always  seeing  some 
thing  to  learn,  where  I  should  never  think  of  look- 
ing." 

"  Precious  little  like  him,"  responded  Nat,  "  but 
1  intend  to  profit  in  future  by  what  I  learned  from 
Patrick  Henry's  life." 

"  I  mean  just  as  I  say,  Nat,  truly,  you  are  like 
him  now,  a  little.  Last  summer  you  was  deter- 
mined to  know  why  the  water  was  warmer  in  windy 
weather  than  it  was  in  a  calm ;  and  I  believe  you 
found  out  before  we  went  in  a  swimming  the  next 
time.  And  as  for  studying  men,  you  are  always 
up  to  that.  I  don't  believe  there  is  an  operative  in 
the  factory  whose  qualities  you  have  not  settled  in 
your  own  mind.  You  learned  more  of  that  fellow 
they  turned  away,  by  looking  at  him,  than  others 
found  out  by  talking  with  him." 

It  was  true  that  Nat  was  thus  accustomed  to  ob- 
serve and  inquire  into  the  whys  and  wherefores  of 
things.  For  this  reason  he  was  never  satisfied  with 
a  lesson  until  he  understood  it,  unless  we  except  the 
study  of  grammar.  He  formed  his  opinions  of  all 
his  associates,  and  knew  one  to  be  selfish,  another  to 
be  ill-tempered,  another  generous,  and  so  on.  He 
was  probably  attracted  by  Patrick  Henry's  study  of 


THE   LOFTY   STUDY.  119 

men,  on  account  of  this  disposition  in  himself,  al- 
though he  was  not  altogether  conscious  of  it.  But 
this  quality  enabled  him  to  learn  much  that  other- 
wise he  would  not  have  known.  For  when  he  was 
not  reading  a  book,  men,  women,  and  children 
were  around  him,  and  many  events  were  transpir- 
ing, all  of  which  he  could  study.  Thus  he  found 
teachers  everywhere,  and  books  everywhere,  not 
indeed  such  books  as  are  used  in  schools  or  fill 
the  shelves  of  libraries,  but  such  as  are  furnished 
in  the  shape  of  incidents,  and  such  as  are  bound  up 
in  flesh  and  bones.  He  could  read  the  latter  while 
he  was  carrying  bobbins  in  the  factory,  and  walk- 
ing the  streets,  or  going  to  meeting.  In  this  way 
he  would  be  learning,  learning,  learning,  when 
other  boys  were  making  no  progress  at  all. 

Shakspeare,  the  world's  great  dramatist,  must 
have  been  indebted  to  this  faculty  of  observation, 
far  more  than  to  books  and  human  teachers,  for  his 
inimitable  power  of  delineating  human  nature.  Ho 
was  the  son  of  a  poor  man,  who  could  not  read  nor 
write,  according  to  reports,  and  he  went  to  London 
to  live,  where  he  held  horses  for  gentlemen  who 
visited  the  theatre,  receiving  small  remuneration 
for  his  labor.  From  holding  horses  outside,  he 
came  to  be  a  waiter  upon  the  actors  within,  where 
he  must  have  been  a  very  close  observer  of  what  was 
said  and  done  ;  for  his  brilliant  career  began  from 
that  hour,  and  he  went  on  from  step  to  step  until 


120  THE   BOBBIN    BOY. 

he  produced  the  most  masterly  dramatic  works, 
such  as  the  world  will  not  let  die.  There  is  no 
doubt  that  he  was  a  born  poet,  but  it  was  his 
faculty  to  read  men  and  things  that  at  last  waked 
the  dormant  powers  of  the  poet  into  life.  He  saw, 
investigated,  understood,  mastered,  and  finally 
applied  every  particle  of  information  acquired  to 
the  work  that  won  him  immortal  fame. 

"  Nat,  you  are  the  best  penman  in  the  mill," 
said  Dr.  Holt  to  him  one  day,  as  his  attention  was 
called  to  a  specimen  of  his  handwriting.  "  Where 
did  you  learn  to  write  so  well  ?  " 

"  At  school,  sir,"  was  his  laconic  reply. 

"  But  how  is  it  that  you  learn  to  write  so  much 
better  at  school  than  the  other  boys  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know,  sir !  "  and  he  never  said  a  more 
truthful  thing  than  he  did  in  this  reply.  For 
really  he  did  not  know  how  it  was.  He  did  not 
try  very  hard  to  be  a  good  penman.  He  did  many 
other  things  well,  which  did  not  cost  him  very  much 
effort.  It  was  easy  for  him  to  get  the  "  knack  "  of 
holding  his  pen  and  cutting  letters.  He  would 
do  it  with  an  ease  and  grace  that  we  can  only  de- 
scribe by  saying  it  was  Nat-like.  It  is  another 
instance,  also,  of  the  advantage  of  that  principle 
or  habit,  which  he  early  cultivated,' of  doing  things 
well.     As  one  of  his  companions  said, 

"  He  can  turn  his  hand  to  any  thing." 

One  evening  in  October,  when  the  harvest  moon 


THE   LOFTY   STUDY.  121 

was  emphatically  "  the  empress  of  the  night,  and 
lads  and  lasses  thought  it  was  just  the  season  for 
mirth  and  frolic,  the  boys  received  an  invitation  to 
a  party  on  the  following  evening. 

"  Shall  you  go  ? "  inquired  Charlie,  when  they 
were  in  the  attic  study. 

"  I  should  like  to  go,  but  I  hardly  think  I  shall. 
I  want  to  finish  this  book,  and  I  can  read  half  of 
it  in  the  time  I  should  spend  at  the  party." 

"  As  little  time  as  we  get  to  study,"  added  Char- 
lie, "  is  worth  all  we  can  make  of  it ;  and  Dr. 
Franklin  says  in  those  rules,  '  lose  no  time.'  I 
shall  not  go." 

"  I  don't  think  that  all  time  spent  in  such  a 
social  way  can  be  called  '  lost,'  for  it  is  good  for  a 
person  to  go  to  such  places  sometimes.  But  I 
think  I  shall  decide  with  you  not  to  go.  I  suppose 
that  some  of  the  fellows  will  turn  up  their  noses, 
and  call  us  '  literary  gentlemen,'  as  Oliver  did  the 
other  day." 

"  Yes ;  and  Sam  said  to  me  yesterday  as  I  met 
him  when  I  was  going  home  to  dinner,  '  fore  I'd 
work  in  the  factory,  Charlie,  and  never  know  any 
thing.  You  look  as  if  you  come  out  of  a  cotton- 
bale.  I'll  bet  if  your  father  should  plant  you, 
you  'd  come  up  cotton,'  and  a  whole  mess  of  lingo 
besides." 

"  And  what  did  you  say  to  him  ?  "  asked  Nat. 

"  Not  much  of  any  thing.     I  just  said,  <  if  1 


122  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

don't  look  quite  as  well  as  you  do,  I  think  I  know 
how  to  behave  as  well,'  and  passed  on." 

That  Nat  met  with  a  good  many  discouraging 
circumstances,  must  not  be  denied.  It  was  trying 
to  him  occasionally  to  see  other  boys  situated  much 
more  favorably,  having  enough  and  to  spare ;  and 
now  and  then  a  fling,  such  as  the  foregoing,  har- 
rowed up  his  feelings  somewhat.  He  was  obliged 
to  forego  the  pleasure  of  many  social  gatherings, 
also,  in  order  to  get  time  to  study.  Sometimes  he 
went,  and  usually  enjoyed  himself  well,  but  often, 
as  in  the  case  just  cited,  he  denied  himself  an  even- 
ing's pleasure  for  the  sake  of  reading. 

About  this  time,  when  he  felt  tried  by  his  circum- 
stances, he  said  to  his  mother, 

"  I  don't  know  much,  and  I  never  shall." 

"  You  have  n't  had  an  opportunity  to  know  much 
yet,"  answered  his  mother.  "  If  you  continue  to 
improve  your  time  as  you  have  done,  I  think  you 
will  be  on  a  par  with  most  of  the  boys." 

"  But  poor  boys  have  not  so  good  a  chance  to 
stand  well,  even  if  they  have  the  same  advantages, 
as  the  sons  of  the  rich." 

"  I  am  not  so  sure  of  that,"  replied  his  mother. 
"  I  know  that  money  is  thought  too  much  of  in  these 
days,  and  that  it  sometimes  gives  a  person  high 
position  when  he  does  not  deserve  it.  But,  as  a 
general  thing,  I  think  that  character  will  be  re- 
spected ;  and  the  poorest  boy  can  have  a  good  char- 


THE   LOFTY   STUDY.  123 

actor.     Was  not  that  true  of  all  the  good  men  you 
have  been  reading  about  ?  " 

Nat  was  obliged  to  confess  that  it  was,  and  the 
conversation  with  his  mother  encouraged  him,  so 
that  he  went  to  his  reading  that  evening,  with  as 
much  pluck  as  ever.  The  more  he  learned,  the 
more  he  wanted  to  know ;  and  the  faster  he  ad- 
vanced, the  higher  he  resolved  to  ascend. 


CHAPTER    XII. 

THE    DEDICATION. 

SOON  AFTER  Nat  entered  the  factory,  a  hall 
was  erected  in  the  village,  and  dedicated  to  lit- 
erary purposes.  Nat  was  all  the  more  interested  in 
the  event  because  it  was  built  under  the  auspices 
of  the  manufacturing  company  for  whom  he  worked, 
and  their  library  was  to  be  somehow  connected  with 
the  institute  that  would  meet  there. 

"  No  reading  to-morrow  night,"  said  he  to  Char- 
lie, as  they  closed  their  studies  on  the  evening  be- 
fore the  dedication.  "  We  must  go  to  the  dedica- 
tion of  the  hall  without  fail.  I  want  to  know  what 
is  to  be  done  there." 

"  They  say  the  library  is  going  up  there,"  an- 
swered Charlie.     "  Have  you  heard  so  ?  " 

"  Yes  ;  but  we  shall  have  just  the  same  privileges 
that  we  do  now,  and  I  expect  the  library  will  be  in- 
creased more  rapidly,  because  they  are  going  to 
make  provisions  for  others  to  take  out  books  by 
paying,  and  the  money  goes  to  enlarge  the  library." 

(124 ) 


THE    DEDICATION.  VSO 

"  But  the  more  persons  there  are  to  take  out 
books,  the  more  difficult  it  will  be  to  get  such  books 
as  we  want,"  said  Charlie.     "  Do  you  not  see  it  ?  " 

"  Yes  ;  but  then  '  beggars  must  not  be  choosers,' 
I  suppose,"  Nat  answered,  with  a  quizzical  look. 
"  Your  chance  will  be  poorer  than  mine  in  that  re- 
spect, for  you  read  more  books  than  I  do,  and  of 
course  you  will  want  more." 

Nat  was  in  season  at  the  dedication,  and  secured 
a  seat  near  the  platform,  where  he  could  see  and 
hear  the  speaker  to  the  best  advantage.  He  was 
not  there,  as  doubtless  some  boys  were,  just  to  see 
what  was  going  on  ;  but  he  was  there  to  hear.  An 
address  was  to  be  delivered  by  a  gentleman  whose 
reputation  would  naturally  create  the  expectation 
of  an  intellectual  treat,  and  that  address  was  what 
Nat  wanted  to  hear.  It  was  singular  that  the  lec- 
ture should  be  upon  the  life  and  character  of  a  self- 
made  man,  of  the  stamp  of  Dr.  Franklin  and  others, 
whose  biographies  our  young  hearer  had  read  with 
the  deepest  interest.  But  so  it  was.  The  subject 
of  the  address  was  Count  Rumford  ;  and  you  might 
know  that  Nat  swallowed  every  word,  from  the 
leading  points  of  it,  which  were  in  substance  as  fol- 
lows :  — 

The  real  name  of  Count  Rumford  was  Benjamin 
Thompson.  He  was  born  in  Woburn,  Mass.,  in  the 
year  1752.  His  father  was  a  farmer  in  humble 
circumstances,  and  he  died  when  Benjamin  was  an 


126  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

infant.  His  mother  was  only  able,  when  he  attained 
a  suitable  age,  to  send  him  to  the  common  school. 
He  was  a  bright  boy,  though  he  was  not  so  much 
inclined  to  study  books.  He  preferred  mechanical 
tools,  with  which  he  exhibited  considerable  inge- 
nuity in  constructing  various  articles,  particularly 
rough  drafts  of  machinery.  Among  other  things, 
he  sought  to  produce  a  model  of  perpetual  motion. 
He  was  sure  he  could  do  it,  and  he  set  to  work  with 
a  resolution  worthy  of  a  nobler  enterprise.  When 
one  attempt  failed,  he  tried  again,  and  yet  again, 
until  his  friends  and  neighbors  called  him  a  "  sim- 
pleton," and  openly  rebuked  him  for  his  folly.  His 
mother  began  to  think  he  never  would  learn  any 
craft  by  which  he  could  gain  a  livelihood,  and  she 
was  really  discouraged.  He  was  not  vicious  nor 
indolent.  He  had  energy  and  perseverance,  intel- 
ligence and  tact ;  and  still  he  was  not  inclined  to 
choose  any  of  "  the  thrifty  occupations  of  human 
industry."  At  thirteen  years  of  age  he  was  appren- 
ticed to  Mr.  Appleton,  a  merchant  of  Salem,  where 
he  distinguished  himself  only  by  neatly  cutting  his 
name,  "  Benjamin  Thompson,"  on  the  frame  of  a 
shop  slate.  He  cared  less  for  his  new  business  than 
he  did  for  the  tools  of  the  workshop  and  musical 
instruments,  for  which  he  had  a  decided  taste.  He 
soon  returned  to  Woburn. 

When  he  was  about  seventeen  years  of  age?  ho 
began  to  think  more  seriously  of  studying,  though 


THE   DEDICATION.  127 

most  youth  in  poverty  would  have  said,  it  is  useless 
to  try.  But  he  had  great  self-reliance,  and  now  he 
began  to  think  that  he  could  do  what  had  been  done 
by  others.  It  would  cost  him  nothing  to  attend  the 
lectures  on  Natural  Philosophy  at  Cambridge  col- 
lege, so  he  resolved  to  walk  over  there,  a  distance 
of  nine  miles,  a  step  which  laid  the  foundation  of 
his  future  fame.  In  all  weathers  he  persevered  in 
attending  the  lectures,  and  was  always  punctual  to 
a  minute. 

Soon  after,  he  commenced  teaching  school  in 
Bradford,  Mass.,  and  subsequently  in  Concord,  N. 
H.  In  the  latter  place  he  became  acquainted  with 
the  rich  widow  of  Col.  Rolfe,  and,  though  only  nine- 
teen years  of  age,  married  her.  But  this  calamity 
he  survived,  and  acted  a  conspicuous  part  in  the 
American  Revolution.  Soon  after  the  battle  of 
Bunker  Hill,  having  lost  his  wife,  lie  embarked  for 
England,  bearing  despatches  to  the  English  govern- 
ment. There  he  soon  became  distinguished  as  a 
learned  man  and  philosopher,  and  was  elected  a 
member  of  the  Royal  Society.  He  was  knighted  in 
1784. 

The  King  of  Bavaria  became  acquainted  with 
him,  and,  attracted  by  his  marked  abilities,  appoint- 
ed him  to  a  high  office  of  trust  and  responsibility 
in  his  court.  There  he  reformed  the  army  and 
established  a  system  of  common  schools.  He  was 
strictly  economical,  and  saved  thousands  of  dollars 


128  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

to  the  Bavarian  government,  by  "  appropriating  the 
paper  used  to  teach  writing  in  the  military  schools, 
to  the  manufacturing  of  cartridges  by  the  soldiery." 

He  was  a  man  of  great  kindness  and  benevo- 
lence, by  which  he  was  prompted  to  establish  a 
reformatory  institution  for  the  mendicants  of  Bava- 
ria, and  so  great  was  its  success  that  it  became 
renowned  all  over  Europe.  The  sovereign  con- 
ferred one  honor  after  another  upon  him,  and 
finally  "  created  him  a  count  by  the  name  of  Bum- 
ford,  in  honor  of  Concord,  New  Hampshire,  whose 
original  name  was  Bumford." 

His  writings  upon  philosophical  subjects  were 
valued  highly,  and  widely  circulated.  He  was  a 
leader  in  founding  the  Boyal  Society  of  Great 
Britain.  He  gave  five  thousand  dollars  to  the 
Academy  of  Arts  and  Sciences  of  Massachusetts  to 
establish  a  premium  to  encourage  improvements 
and  discoveries,  and  a  like  sum  to  the  Boyal  Society 
of  Great  Britain.  He  died  in  1814,  at  the  age  of 
sixty-two,  and  by  his  will  "  bequeathed  $1,000  an- 
nually and  the  reversion  of  his  estate,  to  found 
the  Bumford  Professorship  of  Cambridge  College, 
Mass.,"  to  which  University  he  felt  much  indebted 
for  his  early  instruction  in  Natural  Philosophy. 

His  life  illustrates  not  only  what  a  poor  boy  may 
become,  but  also  what  simple  things  a  great  man 
can  do  to  promote  the  welfare  of  his  fellow  men. 
The  military  classes  of  Bavaria,  and  indeed  all  the 


THE   DEDICATION.  129 

poor  of  Europe,  suffered  for  the  want  of  food,  and 
Count  Rumford  brought  to  their  notice  two  articles 
of  food  to  which  they  were  strangers,  healthful,  nu- 
tritious, and  cheap.  The  first  was  the  use  of  the 
potato,  which  was  raised  only  to  a  limited  extent ; 
but,  through  his  exertions  it  came  to  be  generally 
cultivated,  much  to  the  improvement  of  the  condi- 
tion of  the  poor.  He  received  the  gratitude  of 
thousands  for  his  efforts.  The  other  blessing  was 
the  use  of  Indian  corn  in  making  hasty '-pudding ; 
which  is  a  live  Yankee  invention.  His  instructions 
on  this  point  shall  be  given  in  his  own  words,  as 
they  appeared  in  his  essay  written  for  European 
readers. 

"  In  regard  to  the  most  advantageous  mode  of 
using  Indian  corn  as  food,  I  would  strongly  recom- 
mend a  dish  made  of  it,  that  is  in  the  highest  esti- 
mation throughout  America,  and  which  is  really 
very  good  and  nourishing.  This  is  called  hasty- 
pudding,  and  is  made  in  the  following  manner :  A 
quantity  of  water,  proportioned  to  the  quantity  of 
pudding  to  be  made,  is  put  over  the  fire,  in  an  open 
iron  pot  or  kettle,  and  a  proper  quantity  of  salt,  for 
seasoning;  the  salt  being  previously  dissolved  in 
the  water,  Indian  meal  is  stirred  into  it,  little  by 
little,  with  a  wooden  spoon  with  a  long  handle, 
while  the  water  goes  on  to  be  heated  and  made  to 
boil,  great  care  being  taken  to  put  in  the  meal  in 
very  small  quantities,  and  by  sifting  it  slowly 
9 


130  THE   BOBBIN    BOY. 

through  the  fingers  of  the  left  hand,  and  stirring  the 
water  about  briskly  at  the  same  time  with  the  spoon 
in  the  right  hand,  to  mix  the  meal  with  the  water 
in  such  a  manner  as  to  prevent  lumps  being  formed. 
The  meal  should  be  added  so  slowly  that  when  the 
water  is  brought  to  boil,  the  mass  should  not  be 
thicker  than  water-gruel,  and  half  an  hour  more, 
at  least,  should  be  employed  to  add  the  additional 
quantity  of  meal  necessary  for  bringing  the  pudding 
to  be  of  the  proper  consistency,  during  which  time 
it  should  be  stirred  about  continually,  and  kept 
constantly  boiling.  The  method  of  determining 
when  the  pudding  has  acquired  a  proper  consisten- 
cy, is  this  :  the  wooden  spoon  used  for  stirring  it 
being  placed  upright  in  the  kettle,  if  it  falls  down, 
more  meal  must  be  added ;  but  if  the  pudding  is 
sufficiently  thick  and  adhesive  to  support  the  spoon 
in  a  vertical  position,  it  is  declared  to  be  proof  y  and 
no  more  meal  is  added." 

Then  he  goes  on  to  teach  them  how  to  eat  it. 
"  The  manner  in  which  hasty-pudding  is  eaten,  with 
butter  and  sugar  or  molasses,  in  America,  is  as  fol- 
lows :  the  hasty-pudding  being  spread  out  equally 
on  a  plate,  while  hot,  an  excavation  is  made  in  the 
middle  with  a  spoon,  into  which  excavation  a  piece 
of  butter  as  large  as  a  nutmeg  is  put,  and  upon  it 
a  spoonful  of  brown  sugar,  or,  more  commonly, 
molasses.  The  butter  being  soon  melted  by  the 
heat  of  the  pudding,  mixes  with  the  sugar  or  mo- 


THE   DEDICATION.  1C1 

lasses,  and  forms  a  sauce,  which  being  confined  in 
the  excavation  made  for  it,  occupies  the  middle  of 
the  plate.  The  pudding  is  then  eaten  with  a  spoon  ; 
each  spoonful  of  it  being  dipped  into  the  sauce  be- 
fore it  is  conveyed  to  the  mouth  ;  care  being  taken 
in  eating  it  to  begin  on  the  outside,  or  near  the  brim 
of  the  plate,  and  to  approach  the  centre  by  regular 
advances,  in  order  not  to  demolish  too  soon  the 
excavation  which  forms  the  reservoir  for  the 
sauce. " 

A  great  man  must  be  very  benevolent  and  hum- 
ble to  condescend  to  instruct  the  poor  classes  in 
raising  potatoes  and  making  hasty-pudding.  The 
fact  magnifies  the  worth  of  the  man. 

"  Well,  Nat,  how  did  you  like  the  address  ?  "  in- 
quired his  mother,  after  they  reached  home. 

"  Yery  much  indeed,"  answered  Nat.  "  I  had 
no  idea  that  the  address  was  to  be  about  Count 
Rumford.     He  makes  me  think  of  Dr.  Franklin." 

"  You  see  that  it  is  not  necessary  for  a  boy  to 
have  a  rich  father  to  buy  him  an  education,"  con- 
tinued his  mother.  "  Where  there  is  a  will  there  is 
a  way." 

"  I  could  n't  help  laughing,"  said  Nat,  "  to  think 
of  that  great  man  teaching  the  people  how  to  make 
hasty-pudding.  I  declare,  I  mean  to  draw  a  pic- 
ture of  him  stirring  a  kettle  of  pudding." 

His  mother  was  quite  amused  at  this  remark, 
and  responded, 


132  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

"  I  think  the  lecturer  was  right,  when  he  said 
that  such  a  condescending  act  by  one  so  high  in 
honor  as  Count  Rumford,  was  a  proof  of  his  great- 
ness. You  remember  that  he  said,  '  a  truly  great 
man  will  do  any  thing  necessary  to  promote  the 
interests  of  his  fellow-men.'  " 

Much  more  was  said  about  the  address,  which 
we  have  not  time  to  rehearse,  and  on  the  following 
morning,  as  Nat  met  Charlie  at  the  factory,  the 
latter  remarked, 

"  What  a  fine  lecture  that  was  last  night !  " 

"  Yes,"  Nat  replied  ;  "  it  was  just  what  I  wanted 
to  hear.  My  case  is  not  quite  hopeless  after  all. 
I  think  I  could  make  a  good  professor  of  hasty- 
pudding." 

Charlie  laughed  outright,  and  added,  "  I  think  I 
could  learn  to  navigate  that  ocean  of  butter  and 
molasses  that  he  got  up  on  the  plate.  A  man 
ought  to  understand  geometry  and  navigation  to 
make  and  eat  hasty-pudding  according  to  his  rule." 

"  I  suppose,"  said  Nat,  after  he  had  shaken  his 
sides  sufficiently  over  Charlie's  last  remark,  "  that 
he  was  applying  Dr.  Franklin's  rule  on  '  Frugal- 
ity '  — '  make  no  expense  but  to  do  good  to  others 
or  yourself.'     That  is  it,  I  believe." 

The  mill  started,  and  the  conversation  broke  like 
a  pipe-stem ;  but  the  lecture  upon  Count  Rumford 
made  a  life-long  impression  upon  Nat.  It  was 
exactly  to  his  taste,  and  greatly  encouraged  him 


THE   DEDICATION.  133 

in  his  early  efforts  to  acquire  knowledge.  It  was 
much  in  his  thoughts,  and  perhaps  it  had  some- 
what to  do  with  his  plans,  some  years  after,  when 
he  himself  walked  to  Cambridge  to  consult  books 
in  the  library  of  the  College,  and  to  Boston  to  visit 
the  Athenaeum  for  the  same  object. 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

A    SCHOOL    SCENE. 

"  rpHEY  HAD  quite  a  time  at  school  yesterday," 
J-  said  Nat  to  Charlie,  one  morning  during  the 
winter  following  their  entrance  into  the  factory. 
"  What  was  it  ?     I  have  heard  nothing." 
"  The  teacher  had  a  real  tussle  with  Sam  Drake, 
and  for  a  little  while  it  was  doubtful  who  would  be 
master.     They  both   fell  flat  on  the   floor,  tipped 
over  the  chair,  and  frightened  the  girls  badly."  . 

"  What  did  the  teacher  attempt  to  punish  him 
for  ?  " 

"  He  wrote  a  letter  to  one  of  the  boys  about  the 
teacher,  and  said  some  hard  things,  and  the  teacher 
got  hold  of  the  letter  and  read  it.  Then  he  called 
him  up  and  made  him  spell  before  the  school  some 
of  the  words  he  had  spelled  wrong  in  the  letter,  at 
which  they  all  laughed  till  Sam  refused  to  spell  any 
more.  Then  he  doubled  up  his  fist  at  the  teacher, 
and  defied  him  to  whip  him." 

C  134  ) 


A    SCHOOL   SCENE.  135 

"  He  ought  to  have  been  flogged, "  said  Charlie ; 
"  I  hope  he  got  his  deserts." 

"  If  reports  are  true,  he  did.  Though  it  was  a 
hard  battle,  the  teacher  made  him  beg  at  last,  and 
they  say  the  committee  will  turn  him  out  of  school 
to-day." 

As  the  facts  in  the  case  were  not  quite  as  reports 
would  have  them,  we  shall  give  a  correct  history 
of  the  affair.  Nat  had  heard  an  exaggerated  re- 
port, and  communicated  it  just  as  he  received  it. 
But  the  teacher  did  not  have  a  hard  time  at  all  in 
conquering  the  rebellious  boy,  and  neither  of  them 
fell  on  the  floor.  Neither  did  Sam  shake  his  fist  at 
him,  and  defy  him  to  strike.     The  case  was  this : 

The  teacher  observed  a  little  commotion  among 
the  scholars,  and  inferred  thaj;  some  sort  of  game 
was  being  secretly  played.  On  this  account  he 
tried  to  be  Argus-eyed,  and  soon  discovered  a  pa- 
per, as  he  thought,  passed  along  from  one  scholar 
to  another,  that  created  considerable  sensation. 
When  it  reached  John  Clyde,  the  teacher  inquired: 

"  John  !  what  have  you  there  ?  " 

After  some  hesitation,  John  answered  "  a  paper," 
at  the  same  time  making  an  effort  to  conceal  it. 

"  Be  careful,  sir,"  said  the  teacher;  "/will  take 
that  document,"  and  so  saying,  he  stepped  quickly 
to  John's  seat,  and  took  the  paper  from  his  hand. 

It  proved  to  be  a  letter  from  Samuel  Drake  to 
Alpheus  Coombs,  and  read  as  follows : 


136  THE   BOBBIN    BOY. 

alfeus  kooms,  —  if  you  will  trade  nives  with  me 
as  we  talked  yisterday  it  will  be  a  bargin  for  you, 
mine  is  jist  as  i  telled  you ,  or  the  world  is  flat  as  a 
pancake.  Rite  back  and  mind  nothin  about  old 
speticles  i  don't  care  a  red  cent  for  his  regilations 
about  riting  letters  in  school  i  shall  do  it  when  i 
please,  and  if  he  don't  like  it,  he  may  lump  it,  he  is 
a  reglar  old  betty  anyhow,  and  i  kinder  thinks  his 
mother  don't  know  he  is  out  if  he  should  happen 
along  your  way  with  his  cugel,  you  may  give  him 
my  complerments  and  tell  him  that  I  live  out  here 
in  the  corner  and  hopes  he  '11  keep  a  respecterble 
distance,  now  rite  back  at  once  and  show  old  spet- 
icles that  the  mail  will  go  in  this  school-house 
anyhow.  Your  old  Frend 

Samuel  Drake. 

We  have  given  the  letter  just  as  it  was  written, 
with  its  lack  of  punctuation,  bad  spelling  and  all. 
Samuel  was  accustomed  to  call  the  teacher  "  old 
speticles,"  because  lie  wore  glasses.  The  letter  is 
a  key  to  the  character  and  attainments  of  a  class 
of  bad  boys  in  every  community,  when  they  are 
about  fifteen  years  of  age. 

The  teacher  took  the  letter  to  his  desk,  and  care- 
fully read  it  over,  and  then  called  out  to  its  author, 
in  a  loud  voice, 

"  Samuel !  come  into  the  floor." 

Samuel  knew  that  his  letter  was  discovered  then, 
and  he  hesitated. 


A   SCHOOL   SCENE.  137 

"  Samuel !  come  into  the  floor  I  say,"  exclaimed 
the  teacher  again,  in  a  tone  that  was  truly  em- 
phatic. 

Samuel  started,  and  took  his  place  in  the  floor. 

"  Now  turn  round,"  said  the  teacher,  "  and  face 
the  school." 

Samuel  did  as  he  was  commanded,  not  knowing 
what  was  coming. 

"  Now  spell  Alpheus,"  said  the  teacher. 

Some  of  the  scholars  who  had  read  the  letter 
began  to  laugh,  as  they  now  saw  the  design  of  the 
teacher.  Samuel  had  his  eyes  open  by  this  time, 
and  saw  what  was  coming.  He  hesitated  and  hung 
down  his  head. 

"  Be  quick,  sir.  You  shall  have  a  chance  now  to 
exhibit  your  spelling  acquisitions." 

Samuel  dared  not  refuse  longer,  so  he  began, 

"  A-1-al-f-e-fe-u-s-us." 

"  Pronounce  it,  sir." 

"  Alfeus." 

The  scholars  laughed  heartily,  and  the  teacher 
joined  them,  and  for  three  minutes  the  school-room 
fairly  rung  with  shouts. 

"  Now  spell  Coombs,"  said  the  teacher. 

"  K-double  o-m-s,  kooms." 

Again  there  was  a  roar  of  laughter  in  the  room, 
which  the  teacher  did  not  wish  to  suppress. 

"  Spell  knife  now  ;  you  are  so  brilliant  that  the 
scholars  would  like  to  hear  more." 


138  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

"  N-i-f-e." 

The  scholars  laughed  again  in  good  earnest,  and 
the  teacher  added,  "  That  is  not  the  way  to  spell  a 
very  sharp  knife." 

"  Spell  bargain." 

"  B-a-r-bar-g-i-n-gin,  bargin." 

"  Such  a  kind  of  a  bargain,  I  suppose,  as  a  poor 
scholar  makes,  when  he  wastes  time  enough  in  one 
winter  to  make  him  a  good  speller,"  continued  the 
teacher.  When  the  laughter  had  ceased,  he  put 
out  another  word. 

"  Spell  spectacles." 

"  S-p-e-t-spet-i-speti-c-1-e-s-cles,  speticles." 

Some  of  the  scholars  really  shouted  at  this  new 
style  of  orthography. 

"  I  suppose  that  is  the  kind  of  glasses  that c  old 
speticles  '  wears,"  said  the  teacher.  "  You  do  not 
appear  to  entertain  a  very  good  opinion  of  him. 
You  may  spell  respectable." 

"  I  shan't  spell  any  more,"  answered  Samuel  in 
an  insolent  manner. 

"  Shan't  spell  any  more !  I  command  you  to 
spell  respectable." 

"  I  shan't  spell  it,"  replied  Samuel  more  defi- 
antly. 

In  another  instant  the  teacher  seized  him  by  the 
collar,  and  with  one  desperate  effort  sent  him  half 
across  the  school-room.  He  hit  the  chair  in  his 
progress  and  knocked  it  over,  and  the  teacher  hit 


A    SCHOOL   SCENE.  189 

liis  own  foot  against  the  corner  of  the  platform 
on  which  the  desk  was  raised,  and  stumbled,  though 
he  did  not  fall.  From  this,  the  report  went  abroad 
that  there  was  a  sort  of  melee  in  school,  and  the 
teacher  was  flung  upon  the  floor  in  the  scuffle. 
By  the  time  Samuel  found  himself  on  his  back,  the 
teacher  stood  over  him  with  what  the  young  rebel 
called  a  cugel  (cudgel)  in  his  letter,  saying, 

"  Get  upon  your  feet  and  spell  respectable  loud 
enough  for  every  scholar  to  hear." 

The  boy  saw  it  was  no  use  to  contend  with  such 
strength  and  determination,  and  he  instantly  obeyed, 
under  great  mortification. 

"  R-e-re-s-p-e-c-spec-respec-t-e-r-ter-respecter-b-1-e- 
ble,  respecterble." 

The  matter  had  assumed  so  serious  an  aspect  by 
this  time  that  the  scholars  were  quite  sober,  other- 
wise they  would  have  laughed  at  this  original  way 
of  spelling  respectable. 

"  Hold  out  your  hand  now,"  said  the  teacher, 
and  at  once  the  hand  was  held  out,  and  was  se- 
verely ferruled. 

"  Now  you  can  take  your  seat,  and  await  the  de- 
cision of  the  committee.  I  shall  hand  them  your 
letter  to-night,  and  they  will  decide  whether  to  ex- 
pel you  from  school  or  not." 

Samuel  went  to  his  seat  pretty  thoroughly  hum- 
bled, and  the  teacher  embraced  the  opportunity  to 
give  the  scholars  some  good  advice.     He  was  a  good 


140  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

teacher,  amiable,  affectionate,  and  laborious,  but 
firm  and  resolute.  He  was  too  strict  to  please  such 
indolent  boys  as  Samuel,  who  often  tried  him  by 
his  idleness  and  stupidity.  His  object  in  making 
him  spell  as  he  did  was  to  mortify  him  by  an  ex- 
posure of  his  ignorance.  His  father  had  given  him 
good  opportunities  to  learn,  but  he  had  not  im- 
proved them,  so  that  he  could  spell  scarcely  better 
than  scholars  eight  years  old.  Had  he  been  a  back- 
ward boy,  who  could  make  little  progress,  even 
with  hard  study,  the  teacher  would  not  have  sub- 
jected him  to  such  mortification  ;  but  he  was  indo- 
lent, and  his  ignorance  was  solely  the  fruit  of  idle- 
ness. On  the  whole,  it  was  about  as  good  a  lesson 
as  he  ever  had,  and  was  likely  to  be  remembered  a 
good  while.  The  district  generally  sustained  the 
teacher  in  his  prompt  efforts  to  subdue  the  vicious 
boy. 

The  committee  considered  the  case  on  that  even- 
ing, and  decided  that  Samuel  should  be  expelled 
from  school.  They  were  influenced  to  decide  thus, 
in  part,  by  his  many  instances  of  previous  miscon- 
duct. He  was  habitually  a  troublesome  scholar, 
and  they  concluded  that  the  time  had  come  to  make 
an  example  of  him.  Their  decision  was  communi- 
cated to  him  by  the  teacher  on  the  following  day, 
and  he  was  accordingly  expelled.  When  he  went 
out,  with  his  books  under  his  arm,  he  turned  round 
and  made  a  very  low  bow,  which,  though  he  in- 


A   SCHOOL   SCENE.  141 

tended  it  as  an  indignity,  really  savored  more  of 
good  manners  than  he  was  wont  to  show. 

In  the  sequel,  the  reader  will  understand  why 
this  incident  is  narrated  here,  and,  by  the  contrast 
with  Nat's  habits  and  course  of  life,  will  learn  that 
the  "  boy  is  father  of  the  man,"  that  "  idleness  is 
the  mother  of  vice,"  and  that  "  industry  is  fortune's 
right  hand,  frugality  her  leiV ' 


CHAPTER    XIV. 

TAKING    SIDES. 

"  T  HAVE  been  reading  the  Federalist/ '  said 
-*-  Charlie  one  evening,  as  he  entered  Nat's 
study,  "  and  I  am  a  pretty  good  Federalist."  He 
looked  very  pleasant  as  he  spoke,  and  Nat  replied 
in  a  similar  tone  and  spirit,  without  the  least  hesi- 
tation, 

"  I  have  been  reading  the  life  and  writings  of 
Jefferson,  and  I  am  a  thorough  Democrat." 

"  A  Democrat !  "  exclaimed  Charlie,  with  a  hearty 
laugh  at  the  same  time.  "Do  you  know  what  a 
Democrat  is  ?  " 

"  Perhaps  I  don 't ;  but  if  anybody  is  not  satis- 
fied with  such  principles  as  Jefferson  advocated,  he 
is  not  easily  suited." 

"  But  Jefferson  was  not  a  Democrat.  The  Fed- 
eralist calls  him  a  Republican." 

"I  know  that,"  replied  Nat.  "The  Jefferson 
party  were  called  Republicans  in   their  day ;   but 

( 142  ) 


TAKING   SIDES.  143 

they  are  called  Democrats  now.  I  don't  like  the 
name  so  well,  but  still  the  name  is  nothing  in 
reality,  —  the  principles  are  what  we  should  look 
at." 

"  You  don't  like  company  very  well,  I  should 
judge,"  said  Charlie  ;  "  I  should  want  to  belong  to 
a  party  that  could  say  weP 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  that  V  "  inquired  Nat. 

"  Father  said  there  was  n't  but  four  democratic 
votes  cast  in  town  at  the  last  election  ;  that  is  what 
I  mean.  I  should  think  you  would  be  lonesome  in 
such  a  party." 

"  If  I  hid  been  old  enough,"  continued  Nat, 
"  there  would  have  been  five  votes  cast.  I  don't 
care  whether  the  party  is  great  or  small,  if  it  is 
only  right." 

"  I  glory  in  your  independence,"  replied  Charlie, 
"  but  I  am  sorry  you  have  so  poor  a  cause  to  advo- 
cate." 

"  I  guess  you  don't  know  what  the  cause  is,  af- 
ter all.     Have  you  read  the  life  of  Jefferson  ?  " 

"  About  as  much  as  you  have  read  the  Federal- 
ist," replied  Charlie.  "  We  are  probably  about 
even  on  that  score." 

This  interview  occurred  some  time  after  Nat  and 
Charlie  entered  the  factory,  perhaps  a  year  and  a 
half  or  two  years.  Charlie  really  thought  he  was 
in  advance  of  his  fellow-student  on  this  subject. 
He  did  not  know  that  Nat  had  been  reading  at  all 


144  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

upon  political  topics.  Being  himself  the  greatest 
reader  of  the  two,  he  knew  that  he  read  upon  some 
subjects  to  which  Nat  had  given  no  attention.  He 
was  very  much  surprised  to  hear  him  announce 
himself  a  Democrat,  and  particularly  for  the  reason 
named.  It  was  about  thirty  years  ago,  when  the 
followers  of  Jefferson  were  first  called  Democrats. 
Many  of  them  were  unwilling  to  be  called  thus, 
and  for  this  reason  they  were  slow  to  adopt  the 
title.  It  was  a  fact  that  only  four  persons  cast 
votes  in  Nat's  native  town,  at  the  aforesaid  election, 
as  avowed  Democrats.  But  the  incident  shows  that 
the  hero  of  our  tale  was  an  independent  thinker, 
voluntarily  investigating  some  subjects  really  be- 
yond his  years,  with  sufficient  discrimination  to 
weigh  important  principles.  In  other  words,  he 
was  a  student,  though  a  bobbin  boy,  loving  knowl- 
edge more  than  play,  and  determined  to  make  the 
most  of  his  very  limited  opportunities.  It  is  an  ad- 
ditional proof  of  what  we  have  said  before,  that  he 
studied  just  as  he  skated  or  swam  under  water, — 
with  all  his  soul,  —  the  only  way  to  be  eminently 
successful  in  the  smallest  or  greatest  work. 

"  Let  us  see,"  said  Nat,  taking  up  the  life  of  Jef- 
ferson, "  perhaps  you  will  be  a  Democrat  too,  when 
you  know  what  Jefferson  taught.  He  wrote  the 
Declaration  of  Independence." 

"  He  did  ! "  exclaimed  Charlie,  with  some  sur- 
prise. "  That  is  good  writing  certainly.  It  was 
read  at  the  last  Fourth  of  July  celebration." 


TAKING   SIDES.  145 

"  And  we  will  read  some  of  it  again,"  said  Nat, 
opening  the  volume,  "  and  then  you  may  bring 
your  objections." 

"  <  We  hold  these  truths  to  be  self-evident,  —  that 
all  men  are  created  equal ;  that  they  are  endowed 
by  their  Creator  with  certain  inalienable  rights  ; 
that  among  these  are  life,  liberty,  and  the  pursuit 
of  happiness.  That  to  secure  these  rights,  govern- 
ments are  instituted  among  men,  deriving  their 
just  powers  from  the  consent  of  the  governed  ;  that 
whenever  any  form  of  government  becomes  destruc- 
tive of  these  ends,  it  is  the  right  of  the  people  to 
alter  or  abolish  it,  and  to  institute  a  new  govern- 
ment, laying  its  foundation  on  such  principles,  and 
organizing  its  powers  in  such  form,  as  to  them  shall 
seem  most  likely  to  effect  their  safety  and  happi- 
ness.' " 

"Have  you  any  objections  to  that?"  inquired 
Nat,  after  it  was  read. 

"  No,"  answered  Charlie,  "  and  I  have  never 
heard  of  any  one  who  has.  It  is  pretty  good  doc- 
trine for  such  poor  fellows  as  we  are  certainly." 

"You  are  a  Democrat  so  far,  then,"  said  Nat; 
"  you  want  to  have  as  good  a  chance  as  anybody, 
and  so  do  I.  I  am  for  equal  rights,  and  Jefferson 
would  have  the  poor  man  have  the  same  rights  as 
a  governor  or  president." 

"  So   would   the  Federalists,"    replied    Charlie. 
"John  Adams  wanted  this  as  much  as.  Jefferson." 
10 


1-16  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

"  You  mean  that  lie  said  he  did,"  answered  Nat. 
"  Jefferson  thought  that  Mr.  Adams's  principles 
would  lead  to  a  limited  monarchy,  instead  of  a  re- 
public, where  each  man  would  enjoy  his  rights." 

"  I  should  like  to  know  how  that  could  be?  "  in- 
quired Charlie.  "  What  I  have  read  in  the  Feder- 
alist shows  that  he  was  as  much  in  favor  of  the  Dec- 
laration of  Independence  as  any  one." 

"  But  he  wanted  the -president  and  his  cabinet  to 
have  very  great  power,  somewhat  like  monarchs, 
and  Jefferson  wanted  the  people  to  have  the  power. 
That  was  the  reason  that  Jefferson's  party  called 
themselves  Republicans." 

"  Yes ;  but  do  the  Democrats  now  carry  out  the 
Declaration  of  Independence  ?  Don't  they  uphold 
slavery  at  the  present  day  ?  " 

"  Jefferson  did  not  uphold  it  in  the  least,  and  a 
good  many  of  his  friends  did  not.  If  his  life  and 
writings  tell  the  truth,  some  of  the  Federalists  did 
uphold  it,  and  some  of  them  had  slaves.  So  you 
can't  make  much  out  of  that." 

"  All  I  want  to  make  out  of  it,"  replied  Charlie, 
"is  just  this  —  that  the  Democrats  now  do  sustain 
slavery,  and  how  is  this  believing  the  Declara- 
tion of  Independence,  that  '  all  men  are  created 
equal  ? ' " 

"  I  don't  care  for  the  Democrats  now,"  responded 
Nat.  "  I  know  what  Jefferson  believed,  and  I  want 
to  believe  as  he  did.  I  am  such  a  Democrat  as  he 
was,  and  if  he  was  a  Republican,  then  1  am." 


TAKING    SIDES.  147 

"  I  suppose,  then,"  added  Charlie,  with  a  sly  look, 
"  that  you  would  like  the  Declaration  of  Independ- 
ence a  little  better  if  it  read,  '  all  men  are  created 
equal,'  except  niggers  ?  " 

"  No,  no  ;  Jefferson  believed  it  just  as  it  was,  and 
so  do  I.  Whether  men  are  white  or  black,  rich  or 
poor,  high  or  low,  they  are  equal ;  and  that  is  what 
I  like.  He  never  defended  slavery,  I  would  have 
you  know." 

"  I  thought  he  did,"  added  Charlie. 

"  I  can  show  you  that  he  did  not,"  said  Nat, 
taking  up  a  volume  from  the  table.  "  Now  hear 
this ; "  and  he  proceeded  to  read  the  following', 
in  which  Jefferson  is  speaking  of  holding  slaves : 

"  '  What  an  incomprehensible  machine  is  man ! 
who  can  endure  toil,  famine,  stripes,  imprisonment, 
and  death  itself,  in  vindication  of  his  own  liberty, 
and  the  next  moment  be  deaf  to  all  those  motives 
whose  power  supported  him  through  the  trial,  and 
inflict  on  his  fellow  men  a  bondage,  one  hour  of 
which  is  fraught  with  more  misery  than  ages  of  that 
which  he  rose  in  rebellion  to  oppose.  But  we  must 
wait  with  patience  the  workings  of  an  overruling 
Providence,  and  hope  that  that  is  preparing  the  de- 
liverance of  these  our  suffering  brethren.  When 
the  measure  of  their  tears  shall  be  full  —  when  their 
tears  shall  have  involved  heaven  itself  in  darkness 
—  doubtless  a  God  of  justice  will  awaken  to  their 
distress,  and   by  diffusing   a  light   and  liberality 


148  THE   B0BE1N   BOY. 

among  their  oppressors,  or,  at  length  by  his  exter- 
minating thunder,  manifest  his  attention  to  things 
of  this  world,  and  that  they  are  not  left  to  the 
guidance  of  blind  fatality.'  " 

"  That  is  strong  against  slavery,  I  declare,"  said 
Charlie.  "  I  had  always  supposed  that  Jefferson 
was  a  defender  of  slavery." 

"  How  plainly  he  says  that  there  is  more  misery 
in  '  one  hour '  of  slavery,  than  there  is  in  '  ages  '  of 
that  which  our  fathers  opposed  in  the  Revolution," 
added  Nat. 

"  And  then  he  calls  the  slaves  '  our  suffering 
brethren?  and  not  i  niggers?  "  said  Charlie,  with  a 
genuine  look  of  fan  in  his  eye. 

"  I  want  to  read  you  another  passage  still,  you 
are  beginning  to  be  so  good  a  Democrat,"  said 
Nat. 

"  Don't  call  me  a  Democrat,"  answered  Charlie, 
"  for  I  don't  believe  the  Democrats  generally  carry 
out  the  principles  of  Jefferson." 

"  Republican,  then,"  answered  Nat  quickly,  "just 
what  Jefferson  called  himself.  You  won't  object  to 
that,  will  you  ?  " 

"  Read  on,"  said  Charlie,  without  answering  the 
last  inquiry. 

Nat  read  as  follows : 

"  '  With  what  execration  should  the  statesman  be 
loaded,  who,  permitting  one  half  the  citizens  thus 
to  trample  on  the  rights  of  the  other,  transforms 


TAKING   SIDES.  149 

those  into  despots,  and  these  into  enemies,  destroys 
the  morals  of  the  one  part,  and  the  amor  patrice 
of  the  other.  For  if  a  slave  can  have  a  country  in 
this  world,  it  must  be  any  other  in  preference  to 
that  in  which  he  is  born  to  live  and  labor  for 
another,  in  which  he  must  lock  up  i>e  faculties  of 
his  nature,  contribute  as  far  as  depends  dii  his  indi- 
vidual endeavors  to  the  banishment  of  the  human 
race,  or  entail  his  own  miserable  condition  on  the 
endless  generations  proceeding  from  him.  With 
the  morals  of  a  people  their  industry  also  is  de- 
stroyed. For  in  a  warm  climate  no  man  will  labor 
for  himself  who  can  make  another  labor  for  him. 
This  is  so  true,  that  of  the  proprietors  of  slaves,  a 
very  small  proportion  indeed  are  ever  seen  to  labor. 
And  can  the  liberties  of  a  nation  be  thought  secure 
when  we  have  removed  their  only  firm  basis,  a  con- 
viction in  the  minds  of  the  people  that  these  liber- 
ties are  the  gift  of  God  ?  That  they  are  not  to  be 
violated  but  with  his  wrath  ?  Indeed,  I  tremble  for 
my  country  when  I  remember  that  God  is  just ;  that 
his  justice  cannot  sleep  forever;  that  considering 
numbers,  nature,  and  natural  means  only,  a  revolu- 
tion of  the  wheel  of  fortune,  an  exchange  of  situa- 
tion is  among  possible  events ;  that  it  may  become 
probable  by  supernatural  interference.  The  Al- 
mighty has  no  attribute  that  can  take  side  with  us 
in  such  a  contest.  But  it  is  impossible  to  be  tem- 
perate and  pursue  this  subject.'  " 


150  THE   BOBBIN   BOY.         , 

"  That  is  stronger  yet !  "  exclaimed  Charlie.  "  1 
tell  you,  Nat,  there  are  no  such  Democrats  now." 

"  Yes,  there  are  ;  you  see  one  sitting  in  this 
chair,"  replied  Nat,  "  and  I  believe  there  are  many 
such.  A  person  must  believe  so  if  he  believes  the 
Declaration  of  Independence.  Come,  Charlie,  you 
are  as  good  a  Democrat  as  I  am,  only  you  won't 
own  it." 

"  I  certainly  think  well  of  Jefferson's  principles, 
so  far  as  you  have  read  them  to  me,  but  I  am  not 
quite  ready  to  call  myself  a  Democrat." 

We  can  readily  see  that  Nat's  sympathies  would 
lead  him  at  once  to  embrace  the  views  of  Jefferson 
on  reading  his  life  and  writings.  We  have  seen 
enough  of  him  in  earlier  scenes  to  know  in  what 
direction  they  would  run.  His  pity  for  the  poor 
and  needy,  the  unfortunate  and  injured,  even  ex- 
tending to  abused  dumb  animals ;  his  views  and 
feelings  respecting  the  different  orders  of  society ; 
and  his  naturally  kind  and  generous  heart,  would 
prepare  the  way  for  his  thus  early  taking  sides  in 
politics.  The  traits  of  character  discoverable  in  the 
court  scene,  when  he  plead  the  case  of  the  accused 
boys  ;  his  grief  with  Frank  when  he  wept  over  dead 
Trip ;  his  condemnation  of  Sam  Drake  in  defence 
of  Spot,  and  one  or  two  other  incidents,  are  also 
traceable  in  his  interest  in  the  character  and  prin- 
ciples of  Jefferson.  There  seemed  to  him  more 
equality  in   those  doctrines,  more   regard  for   the 


TAKING   SIDES.  151 

rights  of  tli3  people,  more  justice  and  humanity, 
than  in  any  thing  he  had  read.  Indeed,  he  had 
read  nothing  strictly  political  before,  except  what 
came  under  his  eye  in  the  papers,  and  he  was  fully 
prepared  to  welcome  such  views. 

Jefferson's  life  and  writings  certainly  made  a 
lasting  impression  upon  Nat's  mind.  It  was  one  of 
the  works  that  contributed  to  his  success.  Like  the 
lives  of  Patrick  Henry  and  of  Dr.  Franklin,  and 
the  address  upon  the  character  of  Count  Rumford, 
it  contained  much  that  appealed  directly  to  his 
early  aspirations.  It  is  said  that  when  Guido 
stood  gazing  upon  the  inimitable  works  of  Michael 
Angelo,  he  was  first  roused  to  behold  the  field  of 
effort  for  which  he  was  evidently  made,  and  he 
exclaimed,  "  I,  too,  am  a  painter."  So,  it  would 
seem,  that  direction  was  given  to  the  natural 
powers  of  Nat,  and  his  thirst  for  knowledge  de- 
veloped into  invincible  resolution  and  high  purpose 
by  this  and  kindred  volumes.  It  is  often  the  case, 
that  the  reading  of  a  single  volume  determines  the 
character  for  life,  and  starts  off  the  young  aspirant 
upon  a  career  of  undying  fame.  Thus  Franklin 
tells  us  that  when  he  was  a  boy,  a  volume  fell  into 
his  hands,  to  which  he  was  greatly  indebted  for  his 
position  in  manhood.  It  was  "  Cotton  Mather's 
Essays  to  do  Good,"  an  old  copy  that  was  much 
worn  and  torn.  Some  of  the  leaves  were  gone, 
"  but  the  remainder,"  he  said,  "  gave  me  such  a 


152  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

turn  of  thinking  as  to  have  an  influence  on  my 
conduct  through  life ;  for  I  have  always  set  a 
greater  value  on  the  character  of  a  door  of  good 
than  any  other  kind  of  reputation ;  and  if  I  have 
been  a  useful  citizen,  the  public  owes  all  the  ad- 
vantage of  it  to  the  little  book."  Jeremy  Ben- 
tham  said  that  the  current  of  his  thoughts  and 
studies  was  decided  for  life  by  a  single  sentence 
that  he  read  near  the  close  of  a  pamphlet  in  which 
he  was  interested.  The  sentence  was,  "  The  great- 
est good  of  the  greatest  number."  There  was  a 
great  charm  in  it  to  one  of  his  "  turn  of  mind," 
and  it  decided  his  life-purpose.  The  passion  of 
Alfieri  for  knowledge  was  begotten  by  the  reading 
of  "  Plutarch's  Lives."  Loyola,  the  founder  of  the 
sect  of  Jesuits,  was  wounded  in  the  battle  of 
Pampeluna,  and  while  he  was  laid  up  with  the 
wound,  he  read  the  "  Lives  of  the  Saints,"  which 
impressed  him  so  deeply  that  he  determined  from 
that  moment  to  found  a  new  sect. 

There  is  no  end  to  such  examples  from  the  page 
of  history.  It  may  seem  an  unimportant  matter 
for  a  boy  to  read  the  life  of  Jefferson,  or  Franklin, 
or  any  other  person  ;  but  these  facts  show  us  that  it 
may  be  no  trivial  thing,  though  its  importance  will 
oe  determined  by  the  decision,  discrimination,  and 
purpose  with  which  the  book  is  read.  Very  small 
causes  are  sometimes  followed  by  the  greatest  re- 
sults.    Less  than  a  book  often  settles  a  person's 


TAKING    SIDES.  153 

destiny.  A  picture  created  that  life  of  purity  and 
usefulness  which  we  find  in  Dr.  Guthrie,  the  re- 
nowned English  champion  of  the  Ragged  School 
enterprise.  His  case  is  so  interesting,  that  we 
close  this  chapter  by  letting  him  speak  for  himself. 
He  says, 

"  The  interest  I  have  been  led  to  take  in  this  cause 
is  an  example  of  how,  in  Providence,  a  man's  desti- 
ny, —  his  course  of  life,  like  that  of  a  river,  may  be 
determined  and  affected  by  very  trivial  circumstan- 
ces. It  is  rather  curious,  —  at  least  it  is  interesting 
to  me  to  remember,  —  that  it  was  by  a  picture  I  was 
first  led  to  take  an  interest  in  ragged  schools,  —  by 
a  picture  in  an  old,  obscure,  decaying  burgh  that 
stands  on  the  shores  of  the  Frith  of  Forth,  the 
birth-place  of  Thomas  Chalmers.  I  went  to  see 
this  place  many  years  ago,  and,  going  into  an  inn 
for  refreshment,  I  found  the  room  covered  with  pic- 
tures of  shepherdesses  with  their  crooks,  and  sailors 
in  holiday  attire,  not  particularly  interesting.  But 
above  the  chimney-piece  there  stood  a  large  print, 
more  respectable  than  its  neighbors,  which  repre- 
sented a  cobbler's  room.  The  cobbler  was  there 
himself,  spectacles  on  nose,  an  old  shoe  between 
his  knees,  — -  the  massive  forehead  and  firm  mouth, 
indicating  great  determination  of  character,  and, 
beneath  his  bushy  eyebrows,  benevolence  gleamed 
out  on  a  number  of  poor  ragged  boys  and  girls, 
who  stood  at  their  lessons  round  the  busy  cobbler. 


154  THE    BOBBIN   BOY. 

My  curiosity  was  awakened  ;  and  in  the  inscription 
I  read  how  this  man,  John  Pounds,  a  cobbler  in 
Portsmouth,  taking  pity  on  the  multitude  of  poor 
ragged  children  left  by  ministers  and  magistrates, 
and  ladies  and  gentlemen,  to  go  to  ruin  on  the 
streets,  —  how,  like  a  good  shepherd,  he  gathered 
in  these  wretched  outcasts,  —  how  he  had  trained 
them  to  God  and  to  the  world,  —  and  how,  while 
earning  his  daily  bread  by  the  sweat  of  his  brow, 
he  had  rescued  from  misery  and  saved  to  society 
not  less  than  five  hundred  of  these  children.  I 
felt  ashamed  of  myself.  I  felt  reproved  for  the 
little  I  had  done.  My  feelings  were  touched.  I 
was  astonished  at  this  man's  achievement ;  and  I 
well  remember,  in  the  enthusiasm  ot  the  moment, 
saying  to  my  companion  (and  I  have  seen  in  my 
cooler  and  calmer  moments  no  reason  for  unsaying 
the  saying),  ■ — '  That  man  is  an  honor  to  humanity, 
and  deserves  the  tallest  monumen  t  ever  raised  with- 
in the  shores  of  Britain.'  I  took  up  that  man's 
history,  and  I  found  it  animated  by  the  spirit  of 
Him  who  had  <  compassion  on  the  multitude.'  John 
Pounds  was  a  clever  man  besides ;  and,  like  Paul, 
if  he  could  not  win  a  poor  boy  any  other  way,  he 
won  him  by  art.  He  would  be  seen  chasing  a 
ragged  boy  along  the  quays,  and  compelling  him 
to  come  to  school,  not  by  the  power  of  a  policeman, 
but  by  the  power  of  a  hot  potato.  He  knew  the  love 
an  Irishman  had  for  a  potato ;  and  John  Pounds 


TAKING   SIDES.  155 

might  be  seen  running  holding  under  the  boy's 
nose  a  potato,  like  an  Irishman,  very  hot,  and  with 
a  coat  as  ragged  as  himself.  When  the  day  comes 
when  honor  will  be  done  to  whom  honor  is  due,  1 
can  fancy  the  crowd  of  those  whose  fame  poets  have 
sung,  and  to  whose  memory  monuments  have  been 
raised,  dividing  like  the  wave,  and  passing  the 
great,  and  the  noble,  and  the  mighty  of  the  land, 
this  poor,  obscure  old  man  stepping  forward  and 
receiving  the  especial  notice  of  Him  who  said,  '  In- 
asmuch as  ye  did  it  to  one  of  the  least  ol  these, 
ye  did  it  also  to  me.' " 


CHAPTER    XV. 

THREE    IMPORTANT    EVENTS. 

"  T7RANK  IS  coming  into  the  factory  to  work," 

J-     said  Nat  one  day  to  Charlie. 

"  He  is  ?  "  answered  Charlie  with  some  surprise, 
as  he  had  not  heard  of  it ;  "  when  is  he  coming  ?  " 

"  Next  week  I  expect,  if  the  place  is  ready  for 
him.  I  am  glad  he  is  coming,  for  he  will  be  com- 
pany for  us." 

"  Are  his  parents  so  poor  that  he  is  obliged  to 
work  here  for  a  living  ?  " 

"  Yes ;  they  are  not  able  to  keep  him  at  school 
any  longer,  and  they  think  he  is  old  enough  now  to 
do  something  to  support  himself." 

"  It  is  a  dreadful  thing  to  be  poor,  isn't  it,  Nat?" 

"  It  is  bad  enough,  but  not  the  worst  thing  in  the 
world,"  answered  Nat.  "  Dr.  Franklin  said  it  was 
worse  to  be  mean" 

"  I  shan't  dispute  with  him  on  that  point,"  re- 
plied Charlie,  "  for  there  is  only  one  side  to  that 

(156) 


THREE  IMPORTANT  EVENTS.         157 

question.  But  I  was  thinking  how  poor  boys  are 
obliged  to  work  instead  of  going  to  school,  and  of 
the  many  hard  things  they  are  obliged  to  meet." 

"  I  think  of  it  often,"  added  Nat,  "  but  then  I 
remember  that  almost  all  the  men  whose  lives  I 
have  read,  were  poor  boys,  and  this  shows  that 
poverty  is  not  so  bad  as  some  other  things.  But  I 
don't  quite  believe  Dr.  Franklin's  remark  about  the 
ease  of  becoming  rich." 

"  What  was  his  remark  ?  "  inquired  Charlie. 

"  '  The  way  to  wealth  is  as  plain  as  the  way  to 
market,'  "  answered  Nat ;  "  and  if  that  isn't  plain 
enough,  I  should  like  to  know  how  it  could  be  made 
plainer." 

"  Well,  I  don't  believe  that,"  said  Charlie.  «  If 
men  could  become  rich  as  easily  as  they  can  go  to 
market,  there  would  be  precious  few  poor  people  in 
the  world.     But  is  that  really  what  he  means  ?  " 

"  Certainly  ;  only  industry  and  frugality,  he  says, 
must  be  practised  in  order  to  get  it." 

"  That  alters  the  case,"  answered  Charlie,  "  but 
even  then  I  can't  quite  believe  it.  Are  all  indus- 
trious and  frugal  people  wealthy  ?  " 

"  No,"  replied  Nat ;  "  and  that  is  the  reason  I 
doubt  the  truth  of  Dr.  Franklin's  remark.  Some 
of  the  most  industrious  and  frugal  people  in  the 
world  are  poor." 

The  conversation  was  broken  off  here,  and  we 
will  take  this  opportunity  to  remark,  that  Frank 


158  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

Martin  entered  the  factory,  as  had  been  arranged, 
and  was  most  cordially  welcomed  by  the  boys.  He 
had  been  less  with  Nat,  since  the  latter  became  a 
bobbin  boy,  than  before,  but  their  friendship  was 
not  abated.  We  have  seen  that  they  were  on  very 
intimate  terms  before,  and  were  much  in  each 
other's  society.  Frank's  entrance  into  the  factory 
was  suited  to  strengthen  that  friendship.  The  fact 
that  each  of  the  boys  was  poor  and  obliged  to  work 
for  a  living,  and  that  each,  also,  was  a  factory  boy, 
was  enough  to  cause  their  sympathies  to  run  to- 
gether. It  is  natural  for  the  rich  to  seek  the 
society  of  the  rich,  and  for  the  poor  to  seek  the 
society  of  the  poor,  because  their  sympathies  blend 
together.  Hence,  we  generally  find  in  communi- 
ties that  the  rich  and  poor  are  usually  separated,  in 
some  measure,  by  social  barriers.  This  is  not  as  it 
should  be  by  any  means ;  and  this  distinction  be- 
tween the  rich  and  poor  often  becomes  obnoxious 
to  every  kind  and  generous  sentiment  of  humanity. 
Still,  to  some  extent,  the  very  experience  of  the 
rich  begets  a  fellow-feeling  with  the  rich,  and  so  of 
the  poor.  The  same  is  true,  also,  of  trials.  The 
mother  who  has  lost  her  babe  can  sympathize  with 
another  bereaved  mother,  as  no  other  person  can. 
The  sorrowing  widow  enters  into  the  bitter  experi- 
ence of  another  wife  bereft  of  her  husband,  as  no 
other  weeper  can.  And  so  it  is  of  other  forms  of 
human  experience.     Then,  the  occupations  of  indi. 


THREE  IMPORTANT  EVENTS.         159 

viduals  comes  in  to  influence  the  sympathies.  A 
farmer  meets  a  stranger,  and  finds,  after  cultivating 
his  acquaintance,  that  he  is  a  farmer,  and  this  fact 
alone  increases  his  interest  in  the  individual.  A 
sailor  falls  into  company  with  an  old  man  of  four- 
score years,  and  finds  that  he  was  once  a  sailor,  and 
this  item  of  news  draws  him  towards  the  aged  man 
at  once.  A  lawyer  or  clergyman  is  introduced  to 
a  gentleman  in  a  foreign  land,  and  he  learns  that 
the  stranger  is  a  lawyer  or  clergyman,  as  the  case 
may  be,  and  this  knowledge  itself  makes  him  glad 
to  see  him. 

Now  this  principle  had  a  place  in  the  hearts  of 
these  three  factory  boys,  and  bound  them  together 
by  very  strong  ties  of  friendship.  No  three  boys  in 
the  village  thought  so  much  of  each  other,  nor  were 
so  much  in  each  other's  society,  as  they.  There  is 
no  doubt  that  their  intimate  acquaintance  and  in- 
tercourse had  much  to  do  in  forming  the  character 
of  each.  It  certainly  opened  the  way  for  some  ex- 
periences that  helped  make  Nat  what  he  became. 

"  How  did  you  like  Marcus  Treat  ? "  inquired 
Charlie,  the  evening  after  he  introduced  this  new 
comer  into  Nat's  study. 

"  Very  much  indeed,"  answered  Nat.  "  He 
seems  to  be  a  capital  fellow,  and  he  is  a  good 
scholar  I  know  from  his  appearance." 

"  He  is  a  good  scholar,  for  one  of  the  boys  told 


160  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

me  so.  He  has  been  in  school  only  two  or  three 
weeks,  but  that  is  long  enough  to  tell  whether  a  fel- 
low is  a  dunce  or  not." 

"  Where  did  he  come  from  ?  "  asked  Nat. 

"  From ,  I  understand  ;  and  he  lives  with 

his  uncle  here.  His  parents  are  poor,  and  his  uncle 
has  offered  to  take  him  into  his  family." 

"  He  will  have  a  good  home.  .His  uncle  will  do 
as  well  by  him  as  he  would  by  a  son." 

"  That  is  true  ;  but  he  is  not  able  to  do  much  for 
either,  I  should  think.     Is  he  not  a  poor  man  ?  " 

"  Perhaps  so  ;  he  has  to  work  for  a  living,  but 
many  men  who  are  obliged  to  do  this,  can  do  much 
for  their  sons.  I  pity  him  to  have  to  leave  his 
home  and  go  among  strangers." 

"  He  will  not  be  a  stranger  long  with  us,"  said 
Charlie.  "  He  seemed  much  pleased  to  get  ac- 
quainted with  us,  and  to  know  about  our  plan  of 
study." 

"  I  suppose  the  poor  fellow  is  glad  to  get  ac- 
quainted with  anybody,"  said  Nat,  "  here  among 
strangers  as  he  is.  It  is  a  dreadful  thing  to  be  poor, 
you  said,  the  other  day,  and  I  guess  he  begins  to 
find  it  so.  We  must  try  to  make  him  feel  at 
home." 

"  That  won't  be  difficult ;  for  I  think,  from  all  I 
hear,  that  he  fares  much  better  here  than  he  did  at 
home,  because  his  father  was  so  very  poor." 

"  They  say  '  home  is  home  if  it  is  ever  so  homely,' 


THREE  IMPORTANT  EVENTS.         161 

and  I  believe  it,  and  probably  Marcus  does.  But 
if  he  likes  to  study,  he  will  be  glad  to  join  us,  and 
we  shall  be  glad  to  have  him." 

"  I  will  speak  to  him  about  it  to-morrow,  if  I  see 
him,"  added  Charlie.  "  He  told  me  that  he  read 
evenings."         %• 

This  Marcus  Treat  had  just  come  to  town  for  the 
reasons  given  by  Charlie.  He  was  about  the  age 
of  Nat,  and  was  a  very  bright,  smart,  active  boy, 
disposed  to  do  about  as  well  as  he  knew  how.  He 
entered  the  public  school  immediately  on  coming 
into  town,  where  his  uncle  designed  to  keep  him, 
at  least  for  a  while.  We  shall  find,  hereafter,  that 
he  became  a  bosom  companion  of  Nat's,  and  shared 
in  his  aspirations  for  knowledge,  and  did  his  part  in 
reading,  debating,  declaiming,  and  other  things 
pertaining  to  self-improvement. 

A  kind  letter  came  that  brought  trial  to  Nat.  It 
was  designed  for  his  good,  but  it  dashed  many  of 
his  hopes.  An  uncle,  residing  in  a  distant  city, 
proposed  to  receive  him  into  his  family,  and  give 
him  an  opportunity  to  labor  with  himself  in  the 
factory.  He  was  overseer  of  one  of  the  rooms, 
and  there  Nat  could  work  under  his  eye,  in  a  new 
branch  of  the  business. 

"  Would  you  like  to  go  ? "  inquired  his  mother. 

"On  some  accounts  I  should,"  answered  Nat; 
"  and  on  others  I  rather  not  go." 
11 


162  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

"It  is  a  good  thing  for  boys  to  go  away  from 
home  to  stay,  if  they  can  have  a  good  place,"  said 
she  ;  "  and  you  would  certainly  enjoy  being  in  your 
uncle's  family." 

"  I  should  like  that  well  enough  ;  but  it  is  going 
among  strangers,  after  all ;  and  then  here  I  have  a 
good  chance  to  read  and  study,  and  Charlie  and  I 
have  laid  our  plans  for  the  future.  We  have  but 
just  commenced  to  do  much  in  this  respect.  I 
should  much  rather  stay  here." 

"  But  you  can  have  books  there,  and  as  much 
time  out  of  the  factory  as  you  have  here.  Your 
uncle  will  favor  you  all  he  can,  and  will  be  glad  to 
see  you  try  to  improve  your  mind." 

"  I  shan't  have  Charlie  nor  Frank  there,  nor 
that  new  acquaintance,  Marcus,  who  was  here  the 
other  evening ;  he  was  going  to  study  with  us.  I 
don't  believe  there  will  be  a  library  there  either." 

"  I  think  there  will  be  a  library  in  the  place," 
said  his  mother,  "  to  which  you  can  have  access. 
At  any  rate,  I  am  confident  your  uncle  will  provide 
a  way  for  you  to  have  all  the  books  you  want." 

"  How  soon  does  he  want  I  should  come  ?  " 

"  As  soon  as  you  can  get  ready.  It  will  take  me 
some  little  time  to  repair  your  clothes,  and  make 
the  new  ones  you  must  have.  You  could  not  be 
ready  in  less  than  two  or  three  weeks." 

"  Perhaps  I  shall  not  like  the  new  kind  of  work 
there,  nor  succeed  so  well  in  doing  it.  It  will  be 
more  difficult." 


THREE  IMPORTANT  EVENTS.         lbo 

"  And  you  are  able  now  to  perform  more  difficult 
work  than  you  did  when  you  first  went  into  the 
factory.  You  ought  to  keep  advancing  from  one 
step  to  another.  Besides,  it  may  turn  out  better 
than  you  expect  if  you  go  there.  You  know  that 
when  you  entered  the  factory  two  years  ago,  you 
thought  you  should  never  learn  any  thing  more, 
but  you  have  been  pretty  well  satisfied  with  your 
opportunities  to  read.  Perhaps  you  will  be  as 
happily  disappointed  if  you  go  to  live  with  your 
uncle." 

"  There  is  very  little  prospect  of  it,"  replied  Nat. 
"  But  I  shall  do  as  you  think  best." 

Nat  could  not  help  thinking  about  the  new 
comer,  Marcus  Treat.  He  had  been  pitying  him 
because  he  was  obliged  to  leave  his  home,  to  live 
with  his  uncle  among  strangers ;  and  now  he  him- 
self was  to  have  just  such  an  experience.  He  lit- 
tle thought,  when  he  was  conversing  with  Charlie 
about  this  unpleasant  feature  of  Marcus'  life,  that 
he  would  be  obliged  to  try  it  himself  so  soon.  But 
it  was  so.  Marcus  came  to  reside  with  his  uncle 
in  a  community  of  strangers,  and  now  Nat  is  going 
to  reside  with  his  uncle,  where  faces  are  no  more 
familiar.  It  was  a  singular  circumstance,  and  Nat 
could  but  view  it  in  that  light. 

We  have  no  space  to  devote  to  this  part  of  Nat's 
life.  We  can  only  say,  that  it  was  decided  to  send 
him  to  his  uncle's,  and  that  he  went  at  the  earliest 


164  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

opportunity.  It  would  be  interesting  to  trace  his 
interviews  with  his  bosom  companions  before  his 
departure  —  the  sad  disappointment  that  was  felt 
by  each  party  at  the  separation  —  the  regrets  of 
Charlie  over  frustrated  plans  in  consequence  of 
this  step  —  the  preparations  for  the  journey  —  his 
leave  of  his  native  village  —  the  long  ride,  by  pri- 
vate conveyance,  with  his  parents,  to  his  new  resi- 
dence —  and  his  introduction  to  a  new  sphere  of 
labor. 

He  was  absent  three  years,  in  which  time  he 
added  several  inches  to  his  stature,  and  not  a  little 
to  his  stock  of  information.  We  will  only  say  of 
this  period,  however,  that  his  leisure  hours  were 
spent  in  self-improvement,  and  he  was  supplied 
with  books,  and  had  some  other  sources  of  infor- 
mation, such  as  public  lectures,  opened  to  him  in 
the  place.  On  the  whole,  these  three  years  were 
important  ones  to  him,  so  that  there  was  a  gain  to 
set  over  against  the  loss  he  sustained  in  bidding 
adieu  to  well-laid  plans  for  improvement  in  his 
birthplace. 


CHAPTER    XVI. 

FINDING   A   LOST    OPPORTUNITY. 

IT  WAS  a  few  weeks  after  Nat's  return  to  his 
native  place,  where  he  was  most  cordially  wel- 
comed by  his  old  companions,  Charlie  and  Frank 
in  particular.  He  was  now  an  apprentice  in  the 
machine-shop,  a  stirring,  healthy  youth  of  about 
seventeen  years. 

"  What  have  you  there  ?  "  said  Charlie  to  him, 
as  he  saw  Nat  take  a  book  from  his  pocket  to  spend 
a  leisure  moment  over  it. 

"  My  grammar,"  answered  Nat,  smiling. 

"  Have  you  discovered  that  you  can't  write  a 
letter  with  propriety  without  it  ?  "  inquired  Charlie, 
referring  rather  jocosely  to  a  scene  we  have  sketched. 

"  I  am  pretty  thoroughly  convinced  of  that,"  re- 
sponded Nat.  "  At  any  rate,  I  shall  find  that  lost 
opportunity  if  I  can.     Better  now  than  never." 

"  You  think  better  of  that  grammar  class  than 
you  did  five  years  ago,  do  you  ?  " 

(165| 


166  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

"  I  have  thought  better  of  it  for  a  good  while, 
and  should  like  to  join  it  now  if  I  had  the  oppor- 
tunity. We  were  both  very  foolish  then,  as  I  have 
found  out  to  my  sorrow." 

"  I  have  often  thought  of  that  time,"  said  Charlie  ; 
"  I  think  we  were  rather  too  set  in  our  opinions." 

"  Yes  ;  and  if  the  teacher  had  just  given  us  what 
we  deserved,  perhaps  I  should  not  now  be  obliged 
to  study  grammar,"  added  Nat. 

"lam  glad  to  see  you  so  willing  to  own  up,  only 
it  is  a  little  too  late  to  profit  much  by  it.  This 
'  after  wit'  is  not  the  best  kind." 

"  It  is  better  than  no  wit  at  all,"  said  Nat,  rather 
amused  at  Charlie's  way  of  "  probing  an  old  sore." 

"  The  fact  is,  we  were  too  young  and  green  then 
to  appreciate  the  teacher's  reasons  for  wanting  us 
to  study  grammar.  He  was  right,  and  we  were 
wrong,  and  now  I  am  obliged  to  learn  what  I  might 
have  acquired  then  more  readily." 

"  But  we  studied  it,  did  we  not  ? "  inquired 
Charlie. 

"  Only  to  recite.  We  did  not  study  it  to  under- 
stand. I  knew  little  more  about  grammar  when  I 
left  off  going  to  school  than  I  do  about  Greek  or 
Hebrew.  It  is  one  tbing  to  commit  a  lesson,  and 
another  to  comprehend  it.  I  am  determined  to 
understand  it  now." 

"  How  long  have  you  been  studying  it  ?  " 

"  A  few  weeks  ago  I  commenced  it  in  earnest. 
I  looked  at  it  occasionally  before." 


FINDING    A   LOST   OPPORTUNITY.  167 

<i  Have  you  advanced  so  far  as  to  know  whether 
Sam  Drake  is  a  proper  or  improper  noun  ?  "  asked 
Charlie,  in  a  jesting  manner. 

"  Possibly,''  answered  Nat,  dryly.  "  By  the  way, 
I  hear  that  Sam  has  removed  from  town,  and  all 
the  family." 

"  Yes,  they  have  gone,  and  I  have  cried  none 
yet,  and  hope  I  shall  not.  Sam  is  a  worse  fellow 
now  than  he  was  when  you  left  town." 

"  He  is !  He  was  bad  enough  then,  and  if  he  is 
much  worse  now,  I  pity  the  people  who  are  obliged 
to  have  him  about." 

"  They  told  some  hard  stories  about  him  last 
summer ;  if  half  of  them  are  true,  he  is  a  candi- 
date for  the  state  prison." 

"  What  were  the  stories  ?  "  asked  Nat,  nov  having 
heard  any  thing  in  particular  about  him  since  his 
return. 

"  Some  people  thought  he  robbed  Mr.  Parton's 
orchard,  and  stole  Mrs.  Graves'  pears  and  plums. 
Fie  went  off  several  times  on  Sunday  and  came 
back  intoxicated.  In  fact,  almost  every  evil  thing 
that  has  been  done  in  the  night-time,  for  months 
past,  has  been  laid  to  him.  Perhaps  he  was  not 
guilty,  but  people  seem  to  think  there  is  nothing 
too  bad  for  him  to  do." 

"  And  they  think  about  right,  too,"  added  Nat. 
"  I  never  saw  a  fellow  who  seemed  to  enjoy  doing 
mischief  like  him.      But  how  is  it  with  Ben  ?     I 


168  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

used  to  think  he  would  do  better  if  Sam  would  le?« 
him  alone." 

"  People  generally  are  of  the  same  opinion.  Ben 
is  no  worse  than  he  was  when  he  went  to  school, 
though  he  has  frequently  been  in  miserable  scrapes 
with  Sam.  I  guess  they  will  end  about  alike.  But 
I  want  to  talk  more  about  your  grammar.  Do 
you  really  expect  to  master  grammar  without  a 
teacher  ? " 

"  Of  course  I  do,  or  I  should  not  undertake  it. 
We  conquered  worse  difficulties  in  mathematics 
than  I  have  yet  found  in  grammar." 

"  But  how  can  you  have  patience  to  pursue  such 
a  dry  study  alone  ?  " 

u  It  is  not  dry  now.  It  was  dry  to  us  that  winter 
because  we  did  not  want  to  know  any  thing  about 
it.  Any  book  will  be  dry  when  we  don't  care  to 
read  it.  I  have  found  that  no  study  is  dry  which  I 
really  want  to  know  about.  I  like  grammar  first- 
rate  now." 

"  Then  you  think  that  we  were  dry,  and  not  the 
grammar  ?  "  inquired  Charlie. 

"  Certainly  ;  and  you  will  find  it  so,  if  you  will 
try  it.  When  a  person  really  wants  to  comprehend 
any  subject,  he  will  be  interested^in  it,  and  he  will 
quite  readily  master  it." 

"  I  shall  not  dispute  your  position,"  said  Charlie. 
"  But  when  you  have  a  good  grammar  lesson  you 
may  recite  it  to  me.     I  think  you  will  make  a  good 


FINDING   A   LOST   OPPORTUNITY.  169 

grammarian  after  all  —  you  certainly  will  if  a  good 
resolution  will  accomplish  it." 

"  I  do  not  expect  to  distinguish  myself  in  this 
branch  of  knowledge,"  replied  Nat.  "  But  I  am 
determined  to  know  something  about  it.  A  person 
need  not  learn  every  thing  there  is  to  be  known 
about  a  study  to  make  it  profitable  to  him." 

Nat  was  accustomed,  at  this  period  of  his  life,  to 
carry  some  book  with  him  for  use  every  spare  mo- 
ment he  found.  He  had  a  literary  pocket  into 
which  volume  after  volume  found  its  way,  to  re- 
main until  its  contents  were  digested.  The  gram- 
mar had  its  turn  in  this  convenient  pocket,  and 
every  day  was  compelled  to  disclose  some  of  its 
hidden  knowledge.  Pockets  have  been  of  great 
service  to  self-made  men.  A  more  useful  inven- 
tion was  never  known,  and  hundreds  are  now  liv- 
ing who  will  have  occasion  to  speak  well  of  pockets 
till  they  die,  because  they  were  so  handy  to  carry  a 
book.  Roger  Sherman  had  one  when  he  was  a 
hard-working  shoemaker  in  Stoughton,  Mass.  Into 
it  he  stuffed  geography,  history,  biography,  logic, 
mathematics,  and  theology,  in  turn,  so  that  he  ac- 
tually carried  more  science  than  change.  Napo- 
leon had  one,  in  which  he  carried  the  Iliad  when 
he  wrote  to  his  mother,  "  With  my  sword  by  my 
side,  and  Homer  in  my  pocket,  I  hope  to  carve  my 
way  through  the  world."  Hugh  Miller  had  one 
from  which  he  often  drew  a  profitable  work  as  he 


170  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

was  sitting  on  a  stone  for  a  few  moments'  rest  from 
his  hard  toils.  Elihu  Burritt  had  one  from  the  time 
he  began  to  read  in  the  old  blacksmith  shop  until 
he  acquired  a  literary  fame,  and  on  "  a  grand  scale 
set  to  working  out  his  destiny  at  the  naming  forge 
of  life."  In  writing  ;n  a  friend,  he  said,  "  Those 
who  have  been  acquainted  with  my  character  from 
my  youth  up,  will  give  me  credit  for  sincerity  when 
I  say,  that  it  never  entered  into  my  head  to  blazon 
forth  any  acquisition  of  my  own.  All  that  I  have 
accomplished,  or  expect,  or  hope  to  accomplish,  has 
been,  and  will  be,  by  that  plodding,  patient,  perse- 
vering process  of  accretion  which  builds  the  ant- 
heap, —  particle  by  particle,  thought  by  thought, 
fact  by  fact.  And  if  ever  I  was  actuated  by  ambi- 
tion, its  highest  and  warmest  aspiration  reached  no 
further  than  the  hope  to  set  before  the  young  men 
of  my  country  an  example  in  employing  those  in- 
valuable fragments  of  time,  called  '  odd  moments.'  " 
He  was  once  an  agent  for  a  manufacturing  com- 
pany in  Connecticut,  and  his  pocket  served  him  a 
noble  purpose,  for  it  furnished  him  with  a  valuable 
work  often,  in  unfrequented  spots,  where  he  would 
let  his  horse  rest,  and  spend  a  few  moments  in 
studying  by  the  road-side.  The  horse  soon  learned 
to  appreciate  the  wants  of  his  driver,  and  would 
voluntarily  stop  in  certain  lonely  retreats  for  him 
to  pursue  his  studies.  Thus  pockets  that  have  car- 
ried the  leanest  purses,  have  often  proved  the  great- 
est blessing  to  mankind. 


FINDING   A   LOST   OPPORTUNITY.  171 

But  how  many  youth  there  are,  having  much 
leisure  time  every  day,  who  carry  nothing  better 
than  a  knife,  purse,  and  sometimes  a  piece  of  filthy 
tobacco,  in  their  pockets !  It  would  be  infinitely 
better  for  them  to  put  a  good  book  there,  to  occupy 
their  attention  whenever  a  spare  moment  is  offered. 
If  only  a  single  hour  in  a  day  could  be  saved  from 
absolute  waste  by  such  reliance  on  the  pocket,  this 
would  be  sufficient  to  secure  a  large  amount  of  in- 
formation in  a  series  of  years.  The  working-days 
of  the  week  would  yield,  in  this  way,  six  precious 
hours,  equal  to  one  day's  schooling  in  a  week,  and 
fifty-two  days,  or  ten  weeks  of  schooling  in  a  year. 
Is  not  this  worth  saving  ?  Multiply  it  by  ten  years, 
and  there  you  have  one  hundred  weeks,  —  nearly 
two  years  of  mental  culture.  Multiply  it  by  twenty, 
and  you  have  about  four  years  of  this  intellectual 
discipline.  Multiply  it  once  more  by  fifty  years 
(and  he  who  lives  to  three  score  years  and  ten,  be- 
ginning thus  in  boyhood,  will  have  even  more  time 
than  that  for  improvement),  and  you  have  nearly 
ten  years  of  mental  discipline.  If  we  could  gather 
up  all  the  wasted  moments  of  the  young,  who  pre- 
fer a  jack-knife  to  a  book,  what  a  series  of  years  we 
could  save  for  literary  purposes !  Nat's  pocket 
was  worth  a  cart-load  of  those  who  never  hold  any 
thing  more  valuable  than  money.  If  some  kind 
friend  had  proposed  to  give  him  one  well  filled  with 
gold  in  exchange  for  his,  he  would  have  made  a 
poor  bargain  had  he  accepted  the  offer. 


172  THE  BOBBIN  BOY. 

In  regard  to  finding  lost  opportunities,  few  per- 
sons are  ever  so  fortunate.  Here  and  there  one 
with  the  decision,  and  patient  persevering  spirit  of 
Nat  makes  up  for  these  early  losses,  in  a  measure, 
but  they  have  to  pay  for  it  at  a  costly  rate.  Nat 
thought  so  when  he  struggled  to  master  grammar 
without  a  teacher.  Deeply  he  regretted  that  he  let 
slip  a  golden  opportunity  of  his  early  boyhood,  when 
he  might  have  acquired  considerable  knowledge  of 
this  science.  But  his  perseverance  in  finally  pur- 
suing the  study  furnishes  a  good  illustration  of 
what  may  be  done. 

"  What  do  you  say  to  starting  a  debating  society, 
Charlie  V-  inquired  Nat,  on  the  same  day  they  dis- 
cussed their  grammar  experience. 

"  I  would  like  it  well ;  and  I  think  we  could  get 
quite  a  number  to  join  it.  Where  could  we 
meet  ? " 

"  We  could  probably  get  the  use  of  the  school- 
house,  especially  if  a  number  of  the  scholars  should 
join  us.  For  such  a  purpose,  I  think  there  would 
be  no  objection  to  our  having  it." 

"  Let  us  attend  to  it  at  once,"  said  Charlie. 
"  Marcus  and  Frank  will  favor  the  movement,  and  I 
dare  say  we  can  get  fifteen  or  twenty  in  a  short 
time.  Some  will  join  it  who  do  not  think  of  debat- 
ing, for  the  sake  of  having  it  go." 

This  reference  to  Marcus  renders  it  necessary  to 
say,  that  be  had  left  the  district  school,  and  was 


FINDING   A   LOST   OPPORTUNITY.  173 

learning  the  hatter's  trade.  During  Nat's  three 
years'  absence,  he  was  intimate  with  Frank  and 
Charlie,  and  was  disposed  to  improve  his  leisure 
time  in  reading.  He  was  such  a  youth  as  would 
readily  favor  the  organization  of  a  debating  society, 
and  become  an  active  member. 

"  Come  over  to  our  house  early  to-night,"  said 
Nat,  "  and  W3  « ill  soe  what  we  can  do.  If  we  form 
tiie  society  at  all,  we  can  do  it  within  a  week." 


CHAPTER    XVII. 

THE    PURCHASE. 

ON  THE  same  week,  while  the  plans  for  a  de- 
bating society  were  maturing,  it  was  announced 
that  the  machine-shop  would  be  closed  on  Saturday. 

"  I  shall  go  to  Boston  then,"  said  Nat. 

"  What  for  ?  "  inquired  Charlie. 

"  I  want  to  look  around  among  the  bookstores  ; 
I  think  a  few  hours  spent  in  this  way  will  be  of  ser- 
vice to  me." 

"  Going  to  purchase  a  library,  I  suppose  ?  "  added 
Charlie,  with  a  peculiar  twinkle  proceeding  from 
the  corner  of  his  eye. 

"  Not  a  very  large  one,  I  think ;  but  it  is  well 
enough  to  see  what  there  is  in  the  world  to  make  a 
library  of." 

"  I  should  think  it  would  be  nothing  but  an 
aggravation  to  examine  a  bookstore  and  not  be 
able  to  buy  what  you  want.  It  is  like  seeing  a 
good  dinner  without  being  permitted  to  eat." 

(174) 


THE   PURCHASE.  176 

"  I  can  tell  you  better  about  that  after  1  try  it. 
After  walking  ten  miles  to  enjoy  the  sight,  and  then 
returning  by  the  same  conveyance,  I  can  speak 
from  experience." 

"  Walk !  "  exclaimed  Charlie  ;  "  do  you  intend  to 
walk  ? " 

"  Certainly  ;  won't  you  go  with  me  ?  I  should 
like  some  company,  though  it  is  not  a  very  lonely 
way." 

"  I  prefer  to  be  excused,"  answered  Charlie, 
"  until  I  know  your  experience.  But  why  do  you 
not  take  the  stage  and  save  your  shoe-leather  ?  " 

"  Because  shoe-leather  is  cheaper  than  stage- 
fare,"  replied  Nat.  "  What  little  money  I  have  to 
spare,  I  prefer  to  lay  out  in  books.  If  the  way  to 
wealth  was  as  plain  as  it  is  to  Boston  market,  —  as 
Dr.  Franklin  thought,  —  I  should  not  only  ride  in 
the  stage  to  the  city,  but  also  bring  back  a  book- 
store." 

There  was  no  railroad  to  the  city  at  that  time ; 
but  once  or  twice  a  day  there  was  public  convey- 
ance by  stage. 

"  Well,  a  pleasant  walk  to  you,"  said  Charlie  ;  "  I 
hope  you  will  remember  that  you  are  nothing  but 
a  country  boy  when  you  meet  our  city  cousins.  I 
shall  want  to  go  some  time,  so  you  must  behave 
well." 

"  Much  obliged  for  your  advice  ;  I  dare  say  it 
will  be  the  means  of  saving  me  from  everlasting 


176  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

disgrace.  What  do  you  charge  for  such  fatherly 
counsel  ? " 

"  Halloo  !  here  is  Frank,"  exclaimed  Charlie,  as 
Frank  made  his  appearance.  "  What  do  you  think 
Nat  is  going  to  do  on  Saturday  ?  " 

"  What  he  does  every  Saturday,  I  suppose,  — 
work,"  answered  Frank. 

"  No  ;  there  is  no  work  to  do  on  Saturday,  and 
he  is  going  to  walk  to  Boston  to  visit  the  book- 
stores." 

"  Nobody  can  walk  there  quicker  than  Nat,"  re- 
plied Frank  ;  "  and  if  he  scents  a  book,  I  should  n't 
want  to  try  to  keep  him  company." 

"  I  should  think  Boston  was  forty  miles  off  by 
your  talk,"  said  Nat ;  "  what  is  a  walk  of  ten  miles 
for  any  one  of  us,  hale  and  hearty  fellows.  If  I 
live,  I  expect  to  walk  there  more  than  once." 

Saturday  came.  It  was  a  bright,  pleasant  day, 
and  Nat  was  up  betimes,  clothed  and  fed  for  a 
start.  With  a  light  heart  and  nimble  feet,  he 
made  rapid  progress  on  his  way,  and  the  forenoon 
was  not  far  gone  when  he  reached  Cornhill.  He 
was  not  long  in  finding  the  bookstores,  caring, 
apparently,  for  little  else.  Most  boys  of  his  age, 
in  going  to  the  city,  would  be  attracted  by  other 
sights  and  scenes.  The  Museum,  with  its  fine 
collection  of  curiosities  from  every  part  of  the 
world,  would  attract  one ;  the  State  House,  witli 
its   splendid  view  from   the  cupola,   would    draw 


THE   PURCHASE.  177 

another ;  the  ships  in  the  harbor,  with  their  forest 
of  masts,  would  fill  the  eyes  of  a  third ;  while  the 
toy-shops,  masie-stores,  and  confectioners,  would 
command  the  particular  attention  of  others.  But 
none  of  these  things  attracted  Nat.  He  went  to 
examine  the  bookstores,  and  to  them  he  repaired. 
Books  filled  the  show-windows,  and  some  were  out- 
side to  attract  attention.  He  examined  those  out- 
side before  he  stepped  in.  He  read  the  title  of 
each  volume  upon  the  back,  and  some  he  took  up 
and  examined.  Having  looked  to  his  heart's  con- 
tent outside,  he  stepped  in.  A  cordial  bow  wel- 
comed him  to  every  place. 

"  What  would  you  like,  sir  ?  "  inquired  one  book- 
seller. 

"  I  came  in,"  replied  Nat,  "  to  look  at  your 
books,  with  your  permission." 

"  Look  as  long  as  you  please,"  replied  the  book- 
seller, with  a  countenance  beaming  with  good-will, 
to  make  Nat  feel  at  home. 

For  an  hour  or  more  he  went  from  shelf  to  shelf, 
examining  title-pages  and  the  contents  of  volumes, 
reading  a  paragraph  here  and  there,  marking  the 
names  of  authors,  and  all  the  while  wishing  that 
he  possessed  this,  that,  and  the  other  work.  There 
were  two  or  three  volumes  he  thought  he  might 
purchase  if  the  price  was  within  his  limited  means, 
among  which  was  "  Locke's  Essay  on  the  Un- 
derstanding." But  he  did  not  discover  either  of 
12 


178  THE   BOBBIN    BOY. 

the  works  in  his  examination.     At  length  he  in 
quired, 

"  Have  you  a  copy  of  '  Locke's  Essay  on  the  Un- 
derstanding I9 " 

"  Yes,"  replied  the  bookseller,  "  I  have  a  second- 
hand copy  that  I  will  sell  you  cheap,"  taking  down 
from  a  shelf  an  English  pocket  edition  of  the  work. 
"  There,  I  will  sell  you  that  for  twenty-five  cents." 

"  Is  it  a  perfect  copy  ? "  inquired  Nat,  thinking 
that  possibly  some  leaves  might  be  gone,  which 
would  render  it  worthless  to  him. 

"  Yes,  not  a  page  is  gone,  and  it  is  well  bound, 
as  you  see." 

"  I  will  take  it,"  said  Nat,  well  pleased  to  possess 
the  coveted  volume  so  cheap,  and  especially  that  it 
was  just  the  thing  for  his  literary  pocket.  He  was 
now  more  than  paid  for  his  walk  to  Boston.  He 
had  no  idea  of  obtaining  the  work  in  a  form  so 
convenient  for  his  use,  and  it  was  a  very  agreeable 
surprise. 

In  the  course  of  the  day,  he  made  one  or  two 
other  purchases,  of  which  we  shall  not  speak,  and 
acquired  many  new  ideas  of  books.  Some  valuable 
bits  of  knowledge  he  gleaned  from  the  pages  over 
which  his  eyes  glanced,  so  that,  on  the  whole,  it 
was  a  day  well  spent  for  his  intellectual  progress. 

It  is  related  of  Dr.  John  Kitto,  that  in  his  boy- 
hood, when  he  first  began  to  gratify  his  thirst  for 
knowledge,  he  was  wont  to  visit  a  bookseller's  stall, 


THE   PURCHASE.  179 

where  he  was  privileged  to  examine  the  volumes, 
and  he  there  treasured  up  many  a  valuable  thought, 
that  contributed  to  his  future  progress  and  renown. 
He  always  regarded  this  small  opportunity  of  im- 
provement as  one  of  the  moulding  events  of  his  life. 

Nat  was  on  his  way  home  at  a  seasonable  hour, 
and  had  a  very  sociable  time  with  his  new  pocket 
companion,  which  he  could  not  help  reading  some 
on  the  road.  It  is  doubtful  if  lie  ever  spent  a 
happier  day  than  that,  though  he  knew  little  more 
about  Boston  than  he  did  in  the  morning,  except 
about  the  extent  and  attractions  of  its  bookstores, 
with  a  half  dozen  of  which,  on  Cornhill  and  Wash- 
ington street,  he  became  familiar. 

"  Good  morning.  Nat,"  said  Charlie,  on  Monday 
morning,  as  they  met  at  the  shop.  "  What  discov- 
eries did  you  make  in  Boston  ?  " 

The  only  reply  that  Nat  made  was  to  take  from 
his  pocket,  and  hold  up  "  Locke's  Essay  on  the 
Understanding." 

"  What  is  that  ?  "  inquired  Charlie,  taking  the 
volume  from  Nat's  hand,  and  turning  to  the  title- 
page. 

"  I  have  been  wanting  that  some  time,"  said  Nat, 
"  but  I  had  no  idea  of  finding  a  pocket  edition  nor 
getting  it  so  cheap.  I  bought  that  for  twenty-five 
cents." 

"  It  is  a  second-hand  copy,  I  see." 

"  Yes ;  but  just  as  good  for  my  use  as  a  copy 
fresh  from  the  press." 


180  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

"  A  good  fit  for  your  pocket,"  said  Charlie ; 
"  T  should  think  it  was  made  on  purpose  for  you. 
Has  the  grammar  vacated  it  ?  " 

"  To  be  sure  ;  it  moved  out  the  other  day,  and 
Locke  has  moved  in,"  replied  Nat,  taking  up 
Charlie's  witticism. 

"  Did  you  have  a  good  time  in  the  city  ?  " 

"  Capital :  so  good  that  I  shall  go  again  the  first 
opportunity  I  have.  But,  I  confess,  it  was  rather 
aggravating  to  see  so  many  books,  and  not  be  able 
to  possess  them." 

Charlie  smiled  at  this  confession,  remembering 
their  conversation  a  few  days  before,  and  both  pro- 
ceeded to  their  work. 

This  new  volume  was  a  great  acquisition  to  Nat, 
and  as  much  as  any  other,  perhaps,  had  an  influence 
in  developing  and  strengthening  his  mental  powers. 
It  was  not  read  and  cast  aside.  It  was  read  and 
re-read,  and  studied  for  months,  in  connection  with 
other  volumes.  It  was  one  of  the  standard  books 
that  moulded  his  youth,  and  decided  his  career. 

It  is  a  singular  fact  that  "  Locke's  Essay  on 
the  Understanding"  has  exerted  a  controlling 
influence  upon  the  early  lives  of  so  many  self- 
taught  men.  It  was  one  of  the  few  volumes  that 
constituted  the  early  literary  treasure  of  Robert 
Burns,  to  which  he  ascribed  much  of  his  success, 
though  he  says,  at  the  same  time,  "  A  collection  of 
English  songs  was  my  vade  mecum."     The  famed 


THE  PURCHASE. 


181 


metaphysician,  Samuel  Drew,  owed  his  triumphs 
mainly  to  this  work.  True,  he  became  a  great 
reader  of  other  works,  for  he  said,  "  The  more  1 
read,  the  more  I  felt  my  ignorance  ,  and  the  more  I 
felt  my  ignorance,  the  more  invincible  became  my 
energy  to  surmount  it.  Every  leisure  moment  was 
now  employed  in  reading  one  thing  or  another. 
Having  to  support  myself  by  manual  labor,  my 
time  for  reading  was  but  little,  and  to  overcome 
this  disadvantage,  my  usual  method  was  to  place  a 
book  before  me  while  at  meat,  and  at  every  repast 
I  read  five  or  six  pages."  Yet,  he  attached  the 
most  importance  to  "  Locke's  Essay,"  for  he 
acknowledged  that  it  turned  his  attention  to  meta- 
physics, and9  he  said,  "  It  awakened  me  from  my 
stupor,  and  induced  me  to  form  a  resolution  to 
abandon  the  grovelling  views  which  I  had  been 
accustomed  to  entertain." 

The  German  scholar,  Mendelsohn,  owed  not  a 
little  of  his  distinction  in  certain  departments  ol 
study  to  the  influence  of  a  Latin  copy  of  "  Locke's 
Essay."  He  was  an  extensive  reader,  and  found 
that  a  knowledge  of  Greek  and  Latin  was  neces- 
sary for  the  successful  prosecution  of  his  literary 
pursuits.  Consequently  he  purchased  a  copy  ot 
"  Locke's  Essay  "  in  Latin,  and  with  an  old  diction- 
ary, which  he  bought  for  a  trifle,  and  the  assistance 
of  a  friend,  who  understood  Latin,  fifteen  minutes 
each  day,  he  translated  the  work.     But  the  knowl- 


182  THE  BOBBIN  BOY, 

edge  it  gave  him  of  Latin  was  far  less  valuable 
than  the  teachings  it  communicated,  and  which  he 
incorporated  into  the  very  web  of  his  future  life. 

We  can  readily  perceive  how  a  work  like  this  is 
suited  to  arouse  the  dormant  energies  of  the  mind, 
and  start  it  off  upon  a  career  of  thought  and  influ- 
ence. That  knowledge  of  human  nature  which  it 
imparts,  and  particularly  the  Philosophy  of  the 
Mind  which  it  unfolds,  are  suited  to  aid  the  orator 
and  statesman.  He  who  understands  these  laws  of 
human  nature  can  more  surely  touch  the  springs  of 
emotion  in  the  soul,  by  the  flow  of  his  fervid 
eloquence. 

This  was  not  the  last  visit  of  Nat  to  the  Boston 
bookstores.  Subsequently,  as  he  had  opportunity, 
he  walked  to  the  city  on  a  similar  errand,  and 
always  returned  with  more  knowledge  than  he  pos- 
sessed in  the  morning. 


CHAPTER    XYIII. 
THE    DEBATING    SOCIETY. 

THE  PLANS  of  Nat  for  a  debating  society  were 
successful,  and  arrangements  were  made  accord- 
ingly. Permission  was  obtained  to  use  the  school- 
house  for  the  purpose,  and  Tuesday  evening  was 
appointed  as  the  time  to  organize. 

"  Much  will  depend  upon  beginning  well,',  said 
Nat  to  Marcus.  "  We  must  make  it  a  good  thing 
if  we  expect  any  favors  in  the  village." 

"  Shall  we  admit  spectators  ?  "  inquired  Marcus. 

"  After  we  have  fairly  commenced,"  answered 
Nat.  "  There  won't  be  much  room,  however,  if  all 
the  members  attend,  and  other  young  people  who 
want  to  come  in." 

"  I  should  think  it  would  be  well  to  have  some 
declamations  and  dialogues  occasionally,"  added 
Marcus  ;  "  it  will  give  more  variety.  I  imagine 
that  our  debates  will  want  something  else  to  back 
them  up.  And  then  some  will  be  willing  to  declaim 
who  will  not  attempt  to  debate." 

(  163  ) 


184  THE   BOBBIN    BOY. 

"  That  is  true,"  replied  Nat ;  "  but  we  form  the 
society  for  debating,  and  therefore  this  ought  to  be 
the  principal  object.  It  may  be  well  enough  to 
have  some  declamations  and  dialogues  occasion- 
ally—  I  think  it  would.  But  it  will  do  us  more 
good  to  debate.  We  shall  be  more  interested  in 
reading  upon  the  subjects  of  debate,  and  then  our 
debates  will  be  better  in  consequence  of  our  read- 
ing." 

Tuesday  evening  arrived.  Nat  and  his  intimate 
associates  had  prepared  a  constitution,  so  that  an 
organization  could  be  effected  without  delay.  A 
good  number  of  young  people  assembled,  of  both 
sexes,  and  a  society  was  formed  in  a  most  harmo- 
nious manner.  The  unanimity  of  feeling  and  action 
was  a  lesson  to  most  legislative  bodies,  and  to  the 
Congress  of  the  United  States  in  particular.  It 
was  decided  to  hold  weekly  meetings  for  debate, 
and  a  question  was  voted  for  the  meeting  of  the 
following  week.  Nat  was  appointed  to  open  the 
discussion,  and  three  others  to  follow  on  their  re- 
spective sides  of  the  question.  A  small  fee  of 
membership  was  required  of  the  male  members  to 
defray  necessary  expenses. 

"  A  good  beginning  last  night,"  said  Charlie  to 
Nat,  on  the  next  morning. 

"Much  better  than  I  anticipated,"  was  Nat's 
reply.  "The  thing  has  taken  better  than  I  sup- 
posed it  would ;  but  many  a  good  beginning  has 


THE   DEBATING   SOCIETY.  185 

a  bad  ending.  We  must  do  our  best  to  keep  up 
the  interest,  and  make  it  respectable." 

"I  was  glad  to  hear  you  suggest  that  by- rule 
about  good  order,"  said  Charlie.  "  I  think  some 
voted  for  it  last  evening  who  would  not  have  done 
so  if  it  had  been  deferred  until  disorder  com- 
menced." 

"I  knew  what  I  was  about,"  answered  Nat. 
"There  are  some  fellows  in  the  village  who  would 
think  they  could  have  a  good  time  in  spite  of  the 
officers,  because  they  are  of  the  same  age,  and  I 
thought  it  would  be  well  to  get  them  to  vote  for 
good  order  in  the  first  place.  We  shall  never 
accomplish  any  thing  in  such  a  society  unless  we 
have  as  much  decorum  as  there  is  in  the  meetings 
of  adults,  and  without  it  we  shall  have  a  bad  repu- 
tation." 

Here  Nat  exhibited  one  trait  of  his  youth  —  a 
strong  desire  to  make  every  thing  in  which  he  en- 
gaged respectable.  A  few  years  later  he  manifested 
a  feeling  in  the  same  direction,  when  he  was  made 
captain  of  the  fire  company.  He  introduced  rules 
to  guard  against  those  vices  that  are  so  likely  to 
find  their  way  into  such  associations ;  and  his 
arguments  were  generally  so  good,  and  his  appeals 
so  forcible,  that  he  always  carried  his  propositions. 
The  result  was  a  model  fire  company  that  won  the 
confidence  and  respect  of  the  citizens.  In  his  boy- 
hood the  same  trait  of  character  caused  him  to  care 


186  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

for  his  appearance,  so  that  in  his  poverty  he  was 
usually  more  neat  and  tidy  in  his  dress  than  many 
sons  of  the  rich  with  far  costlier  apparel.  And  it 
was  this  that  had  somewhat  to  do  with  the  general 
manly  character  for  which  he  was  known  when 
young. 

"  I  suppose,"  continued  Charlie,  "  that  some 
men  think  we  only  mean  to  have  a  good  time,  and 
that  there  will  be  more  play  than  profit  in  our 
society." 

"  And  we  must  show  them  that  it  is  otherwise 
by  conducting  it  in  the  best  way  possible,"  added 
Nat.  "  For  one,  I  want  it  for  my  own  improve- 
ment. I  had  better  stay  at  home  and  read  than 
to  go  there  and  spend  an  evening  to  no  advantage. 
Fellows  who  are  not  able  to  go  to  school,  but  must 
work  from  morning  till  night  for  a  livelihood,  are 
obliged  to  improve  their  odd  moments  if  they 
would  ever  know  any  thing.  You  remember  that 
rule  of  Dr.  Franklin,  '  Lose  no  time,'  I  suppose  ?  " 

"  I  can  never  forget  Dr.  Franklin  where  you 
are,"  answered  Charlie.  "  You  think  he  is  law 
and  gospel  in  every  thing  but  the  way  to  wealth." 

The  new-formed  debating  society  filled  the 
thoughts  of  Nat  much  of  the  time,  and  the  first 
question  for  discussion  was  pretty  thoroughly  in- 
vestigated before  the  time  of  the  meeting.  We 
do  not  know  precisely  what  the  question  was,  only 
that  it  was  a  common  one,  such  as  "  Which  is  the 


THE   DEBATING   SOCIETY.  187 

greater  curse  to  mankind,  war  or  intemperance  ?  r 
Suffice  to  say,  that  it  was  discussed  on  the  evening 
appointed,  in  a  manner  that  was  creditable  to  all 
who  participated,  though  the  palm  was  readily 
conceded  to  Nat.  The  success  of  the  first  debate 
created  a  strong  appetite  for  more,  and  from  week 
to  week  the  interest  increased. 

It  happened  one  evening,  for  some  reason,  that 
no  question  was  assigned  for  discussion.  The 
members  came,  and  a  good  number  of  spectators, 
but  there  was  no  provision  made  for  a  debate. 

"  What  shall  we  do  ? "  inquired  Charlie,  before 
the  hour  for  opening  the  meeting  arrived. 

"  Decide  upon  a  question  now,  and,  as  soon  as 
the  meeting  is  opened,  vote  to  discuss  it,"  replied 
Nat,  promptly. 

"  What !  Do  you  mean  to  discuss  it  to-night  ?  " 
asked  John. 

"  To  be  sure  I  do.  It  would  be  a  pretty  joke  to 
come  together,  and  go  home  without  doing  any 
thing." 

"  I  will  agree  to  it,"  said  Marcus. 

"  And  I,  too,"  said  Frank. 

"  And  I,  too,"  added  other  voices. 

So  it  was  decided  to  have  a  discussion,  and  a 
question  was  agreed  upon  by  the  time  the  hour  for 
commencing  arrived.  The  meeting  was  opened, 
and  the  minutes  of  the  last  meeting  read,  when  it 
appeared  that  there  was  no  question  for  debate. 
Immediately  Nat  arose,  and  said, 


188  THE   BOBBIN    BOY. 

"  Mr.  President,  —  By  some  misunderstanding  it 
appears  that  we  have  no  question  for  discussion 
assigned  for  this  evening.  I  think  it  would  not  be 
for  our  credit  to  go  home  without  a  debate,  since 
those  who  have  come  here  are  expecting  a  discus- 
sion. I  therefore  move  that  we  debate  the  follow- 
ing question  this  evening  (at  the  same  time  reading 
the  question),  and  that  the  President  appoint  the 
disputants  as  usual." 

Frank  seconded  the  motion,  and  it  was  carried. 
Next,  the  President  appointed  Nat  to  open  the  de- 
bate, and  Marcus,  Charlie,  and  Frank  for  the  other 
three  disputants.  There  was  some  curiosity  on  the 
part  of  spectators  to  see  how  the  boys  would  get 
along,  and  they  were  all  eager  to  have  Nat  begin. 
All  looked  very  pleasant,  however,  and  well  they 
might,  for  who  could  view  this  young  parliament 
scene  without  a  smiling  face.  Still,  it  was  possible 
to  trace  an  anxious  feeling  upon  the  countenances 
of  the  debaters,  unless  we  except  Nat. 

All  other  preliminary  business  being  disposed  ofr 
Nat  commenced,  proceeded,  and  ended,  in  a  speech 
of  twenty  minutes,  that  was  not  inferior  to  any  of 
his  previous  performances.  His  speech  had  a  be- 
ginning, middle,  and  end,  and  he  stopped  when  he 
got  through,  which  is  not  always  the  case  even  with 
some  noted  public  speakers.  The  others  followed, 
speaking  about  as  well  as  usual,  and  gaining  much 
applause  to  themselves.    It  was  the  general  opinion, 


THE   DEBATING   SOCIETY.  189 

at  the  close  of  the  evening,  that  there  had  not  been 
a  more  interesting  and  profitable  discussion  in  all 
their  previous  meetings. 

"  Nat,  you  was  made  for  a  debater,"  said  Frank 
to  him,  at  the  close  of  the  evening. 

"  That  is  a  fact,"  added  Charlie,  who  heard  the 
remark.  "  You  have  superior  abilities  to  examine 
and  discuss  a  subject,  and  you  command  language 
as  if  you  had  studied  the  dictionary  all  your  life. 
I  suspect  that  pocket  of  yours  holds  the  secret." 

"  No  wonder  that  he  takes  such  a  stand,"  said 
Marcus,  "  he  is  always  digging  away  for  knowledge. 
I  doubt  if  he  has  wasted  a  moment  for  five  years. 
I  am  fully  of  the  opinion,  however,  that  uncommon 
abilities  is  the  real  cause  of  his  success." 

These  tremendous  compliments  were  flung  di- 
rectly into  Nat's  face,  and  he  found  it  more  difficult 
to  reply  than  he  did  to  speak  on  the  unstudied 
question.     At  length  he  answered, 

"  You  do  not  know  me,  boys.  You  overrate  me. 
If  I  have  any  success  in  speaking,  it  is  not  because 
I  have  any  greater  abilities  than  you  have.  I  have 
a  taste  for  such  discussions ;  I  love  to  speak  on  the 
questions ;  and  I  desire  to  do  it  just  as  well  as  I 
can,  and  to  improve  upon  it  every  week,  and  that  is 
half  the  battle.  I  enter  into  it  with  all  my  soul,  and 
don't  stop  to  say  I  can't :  that  is  all  the  difference." 

"  Pshaw,  Nat !  You  will  never  make  me  believe 
that,"  said  Charlie.     "  You  don't  believe  it  your- 


190  THE   BOBBIN    BOY. 

self.  You  are  making  the  way  to  learning  and  elo- 
quence as  easy  as  Dr.  Franklin's  way  to  wealth,  and 
I  know  what  you  think  of  that,"  and  the  roguish 
look  that  he  cast  upon  him  seemed  to  say,  "  I  have 
you  now." 

"  I  say  just  what  I  believe,"  answered  Nat. 
"  The  most  eminent  writers  think  that  a  person 
may  be  about  what  he  determines  to  make  himself, 
and  I  think  it  is  true.  If  a  man  starts  with  the 
determination  to  be  the  best  kind  of  a  machinist  or 
carpenter,  he  will  ordinarily  become  so.  And  so  if 
he  is  really  determined  to  excel  in  any  branch  of 
knowledge,  he  will  usually  accomplish  his  object. 
Tell  me  of  a  great  scholar  or  statesman  who  has  not 
worked  his  way  up  by  perseverance  and  incessant 
labor." 

"  All  that  may  be  very  true,"  replied  Marcus, 
"  but  it  has  nothing  at  all  to  do  with  the  point  in 
question.  We  do  not  say  that  the  most  gifted  man 
will  distinguish  himself  without  improving  his  time 
by  close  application.  We  only  say  that  one  man  is 
more  highly  endowed  by  nature  than  another." 

"  I  admit  that  to  a  certain  extent,"  answered 
Nat,  "  and  still  there  is  not  so  much  truth  in  it  as 
many  people  suppose.  I  really  believe  that  if  all 
the  boys  would  set  about  improving  every  moment, 
as  I  have  done  for  some  years,  you  would  not  ob- 
serve half  so  much  difference  in  them  as  you  do 


THE   DEBATING   SOCIETY.  191 

The  boys  were  rather  unceremonious  in  piling 
such  a  load  of  compliments  upon  Nat.  There  were 
more  than  he  could  dispose  of  handily.  Yet,  the 
views  which  he  advanced,  and  which  he  has  always 
maintained  from  that  time  to  this,  are  substantiated 
by  the  best  authors  we  have.  His  views  were  es- 
sentially like  those  of  Buxton,  who  said  that  he 
placed  his  confidence  of  success  in  "  ordinary  pow- 
ers, and  extraordinary  application."  Buxton's 
language,  on  one  occasion,  was  very  strong  indeed 
upon  the  certain  success  of  a  firm  purpose.  "  The 
longer  I  live,"  said  he,  "  the  more  I  am  certain  that 
the  great  difference  between  men,  between  the  fee- 
ble and  the  powerful,  is  energy  —  invincible  deter- 
mination—  a  purpose  once  fixed,  and  then  death 
or  victory.  That  quality  will  do  any  thing  that  can 
be  done  in  this  world ;  and  no  talents,  no  circum- 
stances, no  opportunities  will  make  a  two-legged 
creature  a  man,  without  it."  Here  is  a  view  of 
success  exactly  like  that  advanced  by  Nat  to  his 
companions ;  and  other  men,  in  the  different  call- 
ings of  life,  have  expressed  a  similar  opinion.  Each 
youth  must  depend  upon  his  own  personal  exer- 
tions, and  not  upon  superior  endowments,  or 
wealthy  or  honored  ancestry,  for  eminence.  If  his 
name  is  ever  carved  upon  the  temple  of  fame,  he 
must  carve  it  himself. 

The  debating  society  had  a  happy  influence  upon 
Nat.     It  called  forth  into  exercise  the  latent  powers 


192  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

of  his  mind  that  otherwise  might  have  slept  and 
slumbered.  Such  an  organization  has  proved  a 
valuable  means  of  improvement  to  many  persons  in 
their  early  studies.  The  Irish  orator,  Curran,  was 
indebted  to  such  a  "  club  "  for  much  of  the  renown 
^hat  attached  to  his  after  life.  He  was  modest  and 
retiring  even  to  bashfulness,  and  had  a  very  marked 
defect  in  his  articulation,  so  that  his  schoolmates 
called  him  "  stuttering  Jack  Curran."  He  joined 
a  •'  debating  club,"  determined  to  improve  if  possi- 
ble, but  there  one  of  the  first  flings  he  received  was 
to  be  called  "  Orator  Mum,"  in  consequence  of  his 
being  so  frightened  when  he  arose  to  speak  that  he 
was  not  able  to  say  a  word.  But  he  persevered  un- 
til he  became  the  champion  of  the  "  club,"  and  laid 
the  foundation  of  his  future  eminence  as  2.11  orator. 
A  living  American  statesman,  who  has  already  made 
his  mark  upon  the  land  of  his  birth,  considers  the 
influence  of  a  debating  society  to  which  he  belonged 
in  his  youth,  among  the  first  stimulating  causes  of 
the  course  he  has  pursued.  The  highly  distin- 
guished English  statesman,  Canning,  organized  a 
House  of  Commons  among  his  play-fellows  at  school, 
where  a  speaker  was  regularly  elected,  and  minis- 
terial and  opposition  parties  were  formed,  and  de- 
bates carried  on,  in  imitation  of  Parliament.  Can- 
ning became  the  star  of  this  juvenile  organization, 
and  there  began  to  develop  those  powers  by  which, 
a  few  years  after,  as  another  has  said,  "  he  ruled 


THE   DEBATING   SOCIETY.  193 

the  House  as  a  man  rules  the  high-bred  steed,  as 
Alexander  ruled  Bucephalus,  of  whom  it  was  said 
the  horse  and  the  rider  were  equally  proud. " 
Henry  Clay,  the  American  orator,  said  to  some 
young  men,  "  I  owe  my  success  in  life  chiefly  to 
one  circumstance,  —  that  I  commenced  and  con- 
tinued for  years  the  process  of  daily  reading  and 
speaking  upon  the  contents  of  some  historical  or 
scientific  book.  These  off-hand  efforts  were  made, 
sometimes  in  a  cornfield,  at  others  in  the  forest, 
and  not  unfrequently  in  some  distant  barn,  with 
the  horse  and  ox  for  my  auditors.  It  is  to  this 
early  practice  of  the  art  of  all  arts  that  I  am  in- 
debted for  the  primary  and  leading  impulses  that 
stimulated  me  onward,  and  have  shaped  and 
moulded  my  subsequent  destiny."  What  speaking 
to  the  forest  trees  and  beasts  of  the  stall  was  to  Clay, 
that  was  the  debating  society  to  Nat.  It  was  a 
place  where  he  could  use  the  knowledge  he  ac- 
quired by  reading,  while,  at  the  same  time,  his  mind 
was  stimulated  to  action,  so  that  he  began  to  utter 
"  thoughts  that  breathe  and  words  that  burn." 

Some  twelve  or  fourteen  years  ago,  the  author 
was  passing  Tremont  Temple  in  Boston,  when  he 
observed  an  illuminated  sign  over  the  door  of  one 
of  its  basement  rooms,  "  Boston  Young  Men's  To- 
tal Abstinence  Society,"  and  in  connection  with  it 
was  a  most  cordial  "  Walk  In."  We  accepted  the 
silent  invitation,  and  entered.  There  we  found  a 
13 


194  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

few  young  men  engaged  in  a  debate,  and  some  five 
or  six  spectators,  among  whom  was  Deacon  Grant, 
listening.  After  the  close  of  the  exercises,  the 
young  men  came  forward  in  a  most  cordial  and 
genial  way  to  converse,  and  I  learned  that  they  had 
a  small  library,  and  were  accustomed  to  debate 
questions  of  a  social  and  literary  character  at  their 
meetings.  Only  a  few  belonged  to  the  society  \  for 
it  has  always  been  true  that  total  abstinence  socie- 
ties have  not  been  well  supported  in  Boston,  and 
the  fact  is  a  stain  upon  its  social  character,  and  the 
piety  of  its  churches ;  but  those  few  were  anxious 
to  make  the  society  a  means  of  mental  improve- 
ment, at  the  same  time  it  contributed  to  prosper  the 
cause  of  temperance  For  some  years  the  organ- 
ization was  conducted  in  this  way  ;  and  what  was 
the  result  ?  We  are  not  able  to  point  to  all  the 
members  as  they  now  meet  the  stern  duties  of  me- 
ridian life,  but  we  know  the  whereabouts  and  posi- 
tion of  a  few.  One  of  them,  who  was  a  mason  by 
trade,  at  the  time  referred  to  above,  is  the  popular 
editor  of  a  daily  paper  in  a  New  England  city,  and 
his  charming  eloquence  has  more  than  once  de- 
lighted a  Boston  audience  Another  has  worked 
his  way  along  through  a  course  of  education,  and 
now  occupies  an  honorable  position  as  a  preacher 
of  the  gospel.  Yet  another  applied  himself  to  self- 
improvement  with  industry  and  perseverance,  and 
the  world  know  him  now  as  the  talented  author, 


THE   DEBATING   SOCIETY.  105 

Oliver  Optics.  And  still  another,  a  merchant's 
clerk,  now  stands  at  the  head  of  the  large  mercan- 
tile house  in  which  he  then  served,  possessing 
wealth  and  position  that  many  an  older  man  would 
be  proud  to  call  his  own.  His  beautiful  city  man- 
sion contains  a  study,  where  leisure  hours  are  pro- 
fitably employed,  showing  that  the  stimulus  of  those 
early  debates  is  still  felt.  His  voice  is  often  heard 
in  public  assemblies,  and  he  now  takes  his  turn, 
with  a  corps  of  divines  and  lawyers,  in  editing  a 
religious  magazine.  Not  one  of  these  young  men 
had  wealth,  or  titled  ancestry,  or  superior  advan- 
tages, to  aid  them  ;  and  all  will  say  that  the  de- 
bates of  their  society  exerted  a  powerful  influence 
over  them,  and  contributed  largely  to  their  success. 


CHAPTER    XIX. 

COMING    AND    GOING. 

FRANK  WAS  much  surprised  one  day  to  receive 
a  visit  from  Ben  Drake. 

"  Is  it  you,  Ben  ?  "  he  exclaimed,  as  he  met  him 
at  the  door. 

"  I  believe  it  is,"  said  Ben,  "  though  I  hope  I  am 
a  different  Ben  from  what  I  was  five  years  ago," 
evidently  retaining  some  recollection  of  Trip's 
death. 

"  I  should  not  have  known  you,"  said  Frank, 
"  if  I  had  passed  you  in  the  street.  How  you 
have  grown ! " 

Frank  had  really  no  better  opinion  of  Ben  now 
than  he  had  when  Trip  was  tumbled  down  Prospect 
Hill,  and  he  was  sorry  to  see  him  coming  up  to  his 
father's  door.  Still,  he  was  so  much  improved  in 
his  appearance,  and  he  met  Frank  so  much  more 
gentlemanly  than  he  ever  did  before,  that  the  latter 
could  not  but  give  him  a  cordial  welcome. 

U96) 


COMING   AND   GOING.  197 

"  You  have  changed  as  much  as  I  have,  I  think," 
added  Ben,  "  though,  in  one  respect,  there  was  not 
so  much  room  for  a  change  in  your  case  as  there 
was  in  mine."  But  this  allusion  Frank  did  not 
comprehend. 

"  Come  in,  come  in,"  said  Frank,  and  he  ushered 
him  into  the  house,  where  he  met  the  family,  who 
were  rather  surprised  to  see  him.  Mrs.  Martin 
made  inquiries  after  the  family,  to  which  Ben  re- 
sponded in  a  manner  that  evidenced  great  improve- 
ment. 

"  Where  do  you  live  ?  "  she  asked. 

"  I  am  now  at  school  in  Andover." 

"  Ah  !  you  have  better  advantages  than  the  rest 
of  the  boys." 

"  And  I  hope  I  improve  them  better  than  I  used 
to,"  said  Ben.  "  I  was  a  pretty  wild  boy  when  I 
lived  here,  and  it  has  caused  me  many  regrets." 

"  How  long  are  you  going  to  school  ?  "  inquired 
Mrs.  Martin. 

"  I  expect  to  prepare  for  college  there." 

"  You  do  ?  Then  you  are  going  to  have  a  lib- 
eral education?  What  are  you  going  to  be,  —  a 
lawyer  ?  " 

"  No  ;  I  hope  to  do  more  good  than  I  could  to 
be  a  lawyer.     I  expect  to  be  a  minister." 

Frank  and  his  mother  were  both  surprised  at 
this  announcement,  and  the  latter  asked, 

"  Then  you  are  a  Christian  ?" 


198  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

"  I  trust  I  am.  Nothing  but  becoming  a  Chris- 
tian could  have  saved  me  from  my  wicked 
ways." 

"  How  long  since  you  became  a  Christian  ?  " 

"  It  is  eight  or  ten  months." 

Other  inquiries  elicited  the  fact,  that  his  brother 
Sam  was  no  better  than  when  he  left  town,  and  that 
much  of  the  time  his  parents  knew  nothing  of  his 
whereabouts. 

As  the  evening  drew  on  (Frank  had  invited  Ben 
to  stay  with  him),  Ben  inquired  if  there  was  a 
prayer-meeting  on  that  evening,  to  which  he  re- 
ceived an  affirmative  answer. 

"  Will  you  go  ?  "  he  asked,  addressing  himself  to 
Frank. 

"  Yes  ;  if  you  wish  to  have  me.  It  will  soon  be 
time  to  go." 

They  went  to  the  prayer-meeting,  and  entered 
the  room  just  as  the  exercises  commenced.  A  good 
number  were  present,  some  of  whose  faces  Ben 
recognized,  though  scarcely  any  one  at  first  knew 
him.  In  the  course  of  the  evening  he  arose  and 
spoke  in  a  feeling  way  of  his  own  experience,  re- 
ferred to  his  former  recklessness  in  that  village, 
and  disclosed  his  purpose  to  become  a  minister 
of  Christ.  Before  he  sat  down,  most  of  those 
present  recognized  the  once  bad  boy,  and  they 
were  both  surprised  and  delighted.  Frank  could 
hardly  believe  what  he  saw  and  heard.     He  never 


COMING   AND   GOING.  193 

expected  that  Ben  Drake  would  take  such  a  stand 
as  this  ;  and  he  thought  much,  but  said  little. 

Early  the  next  morning,  Frank  ran  over  to  in- 
form Nat  of  the  arrival  of  Ben,  and  the  fact  that 
he  was  going  to  make  a  minister. 

"  Going  to  be  a  minister  !  "  exclaimed  Nat.  "  I 
should  like  to  know  what  can  be  found  in  him  to 
make  a  minister  of." 

"  Well,  he  is  certainly  in  the  school  at  Andover, 
preparing  for  college,  —  if  he  tells  the  truth,  —  and 
you  have  no  idea  how  much  improved  he  is." 

"  He  is  deceiving  you,  Frank.  I  have  no  confi- 
dence in  the  fellow.  He  always  was  bad,  and  he 
always  will  be." 

"  No  ;  he  is  pious  now.  I  went  to  the  prayer- 
meeting  with  him  last  night,  and  he  spoke.  He 
spoke  well,  too,  and  alluded  to  his  evil  ways 
when  he  lived  here,  and  expressed  much  regret 
at  his  course." 

"  I  can  scarcely  believe  it,"  replied  Nat,  "  though 
I  used  to  think  that  Ben  would  not  be  so  bad  if 
Sam  was  out  of  the  way.  What  has  become  of 
Sam  ?  There  is  not  much  danger  of  his  becoming 
pious,  I  take  it." 

"  Ben  is  not  inclined  to  talk  very  freely  about 
him,  but  from  what  we  have  learned,  the  family 
don't  know  where  he  is  much  of  the  time." 

"  How  long  is  it  since  Ben  reformed  ?  " 

"  Only  eight  or  ten   months.     Mother   says  he 


200  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

appears  well  now,  but  she  would  rather  wait  to  see 
how  he  holds  out.  She  is  afraid  that  his  early 
vicious  habits  will  be  too  strong  for  his  present 
good  purpose." 

44  Where  is  he  now  ?  "  inquired  Nat,  becoming 
intensely  interested  in  the  case.  "  Is  he  not  com- 
ing around  to  see  us  ?  " 

"  Yes ;  he  will  go  about  some  to-day,  and  go 
home  to-morrow." 

Ben  called  upon  many  of  his  old  acquaintances 
that  day,  so  that  they  had  an  opportunity  of  seeing 
him,  and  all  were  as  much  surprised  as  Frank  at 
the  change  in  his  appearance.  His  visit  created 
quite  a  sensation  in  a  circle  of  families,  where  he 
was  particularly  known  in  his  early  boyhood,  and 
he  was  the  occasion  of  many  remarks  after  his 
departure.  Hereafter  we  shall  see  what  kind  of  a 
man  he  made. 

Before  the  young  people  had  fairly  recovered 
from  the  surprise  occasioned  by  Ben's  visit,  news 
came  that  Daniel  Webster  was  to  speak  in  Faneuil 
Hall,  Boston,  on  a  certain  evening. 

"  I  shall  go  to  hear  him,"  said  Nat,  as  soon  as  he 
heard  of  it.     "  Will  you  go,  Charlie  ?  " 

"  How  will  you  go  ?  "  asked  Charlie. 

44  With  my  own  team,  of  course,"  answered  Nat, 
jestingly. 

44  And  walk  home  after  the  address  ?  " 

44  Certainly ;  there  is  no  other  way  for  we  poor 


COMING   AND   GOING.  201 

fellows  to  do.  1  never  heard  Daniel  Webster 
speak,  and  I  shall  hear  him  if  it  is  a  possible  thing. 
Will  you  go  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  will,"  answered  Charlie.  "  You  are  not 
to  have  all  the  glory  of  walking  to  Boston.  I  will 
try  it  for  once." 

"  /  expect  to  try  it  a  good  many  times,"  said 
Nat.  "  I  want  to  hear  some  of  the  orators  of  whom 
so  much  is  said.  There  is  much  to  be  learned  in 
watching  a  speaker,  and  listening  to  him.  His 
manners  teach  as  well  as  his  thoughts.  I  intend 
to  hear  Edward  Everett  the  first  time  he  speaks 
within  ten  or  fifteen  miles  of  here." 

"  I  see  what  you  are  after,"  said  Charlie.  "  You 
mean  to  discover  the  secret  of  their  power,  if  possi- 
ble, and  I  hope  you  will." 

On  the  evening  of  Webster's  speech,  Nat  and 
Charlie  were  on  their  way  to  Boston  in  good  season, 
and  arrived  at  Faneuil  Hall  before  the  hour  for  the 
meeting.  They  hurried  in  to  find  eligible  seats 
before  the  hall  was  crowded.  Many  were  already 
there,  and  many  more  were  constantly  coming  in. 
Nat  found  that  he  could  see  the  speaker  better  to 
stand  directly  in  front  of  the  platform,  where  many 
were  already  awaiting  the  arrival  of  the  great 
orator.  So  there  he  took  his  place,  with  Charlie 
by  his  side,  forgetting  that  his  limbs  were  weary 
with  the  ten  miles'  walk,  and  a  day's  hard  toil  in 
the  'machine-shop. 


202  THE  BOBBIN  BOY. 

Hearty  cheers  announced  the  arrival  of  the 
orator,  whom  Nat  had  not  seen  before,  and  still 
another  round  of  applause  went  up  when  he  arose 
to  speak.  It  was  a  great  treat  for  Nat  to  listen  to 
the  man  whose  fame  made  his  name  familiar  to 
every  school-boy.  He  drank  in  every  word  of  his 
speech,  closely  observed  every  gesture  and  modula- 
tion of  voice,  and  would  have  sat  entranced  till 
morning,  "  taking  no  note  of  time,"  if  the  gifted 
orator  had  continued  to  pour  forth  his  eloquence. 

"  Could  any  thing  be  grander  than  that  ?  "  said 
Nat,  as  they  were  leaving  the  house.  "  I  would 
walk  twice  as  far  to  hear  another  speech  like 
it." 

"  It  was  very  fine  indeed,"  answered  Charlie. 
"  It  far  exceeded  my  expectations,  high  as  my  hopes 
were  raised." 

"  What  power  there  is  in  the  human  voice  to 
control  men  !  "  said  Nat.  "  How  still  it  was  in  the 
hall !  You  could  almost  hear  a  pin  drop,  they 
were  so  chained  by  his  eloquence.  What  else  could 
hold  them  so  long  in  such  silence  ! " 

"  Nothing,"  replied  Charlie.  "  It  has  given  me 
a  new  idea  of  eloquence  altogether.  His  voice 
alone,  without  a  thought,  is  enough  to  command 
attention." 

"  I  could  but  notice  his  choice  of  language," 
added  Nat ;  "  every  word  seemed  to  be  the  most 
expressive   one   he   could  find,  and   some   of  his 


COMING  AND   GOING.  203 

gestures  appeared  to  make  his  words  mean  much 
more  than  they  really  do." 

.  Nat  had  always  been  a  close  observer  of  public 
speakers  from  his  boyhood,  and  lost  no  opportunity 
to  hear  lecturers  who  came  to  his  native  village. 
At  the  time  he  heard  Y/ebster,  his  desire  to  listen 
to  the  leading  orators  of  the  day  had  developed 
almost  into  a  passion.  The  Debating  Society  had 
probably  sharpened  his  taste  for  such  intellectual 
treats,  and  he  was  fully  resolved  to  hear  all  the 
speakers  he  could.  He  seldom  left  his  book  m  the 
evening,  except  to  hear  some  public  speaker  at 
home  and  abroad,  or  to  debate  a  question  in  the 
club.  Many  times  he  walked  into  Boston  to  listen 
to  some  distinguished  orator,  returning,  often  alone, 
after  the  treat  was  enjoyed.  This  was  the  pains  he 
took  to  hear  Edward  Everett  several  times,  who 
became  his  favorite.  He  admired  him  for  the 
elegance  of  his  diction,  and  the  beauty  with  which 
all  of  his  addresses  were  invested.  He  saw  more 
power  in  Webster,  and  more  elegance  in  Everett. 

He  frequently  walked  into  neighboring  towns  to 
hear  lectures  and  political  speeches.  A  good 
speaker  announced  anywhere  in  the  vicinity  was 
sure  to  call  him  out,  whether  the  speech  was  upon 
education  or  politics.  One  great  object  with  him 
seemed  to  be,  to  learn  the  art  of  oratory  by  actual 
observation.  It  is  probably  true,  that  he  acquired 
more  knowledge  of  the  English  language  by  listen- 


204  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

ing  to  gifted  speakers  than  he  ever  did  from  books, 
and  more  of  the  true  art  of  using  it  himself  to 
sway  an  audience.  It  is  said  that  Robert  Bloom- 
field,  when  a  poor  boy,  having  only  a  newspaper 
and  an  old  English  dictionary  with  which  to  gratify 
his  thirst  for  information,  acquired  a  very  good 
knowledge  of  pronunciation  by  listening  to  the 
clerical  orator,  Mr.  Fawcet.  Drawn  by  the  speak- 
er's popularity,  he  went  to  hear  him  one  Sabbath 
evening,  and  he  was  so  impressed  with  his  choice 
and  enunciation  of  words,  that  he  continued  to 
attend  his  preaching  in  order  to  perfect  himself  in 
the  proper  use  of  language  —  not  a  very  high  object 
for  which  to  hear  preaching,  but  illustrative  of  what 
may  be  learned  by  close  observation.  In  this  way 
Nat,  like  Bloomfield  and  Patrick  Henry,  studied 
"  men  and  things,"  in  connection  with  books, 
during  the  eventful  years  of  his  apprenticeship. 

Nat's  admiration  of  the  power  of  the  human 
voice  was  not  all  a  youthful  hallucination.  What 
is  there  like  it  ?  From  the  nursery  to  the  Senate 
it  controls  and  sways  the  heart  of  man.  From  the 
mother's  voice  at  the  fireside,  to  the  eloquence  of  a 
Webster  in  the  "  cradle  of  liberty,"  it  soothes, 
arouses,  elevates,  or  depresses,  at  its  pleasure. 
Listen  to  the  gifted  orator,  as  the  flowing  periods 
come  burning  from  his  soul  on  fire,  riveting  the 
attention  of  his  hearers  in  breathless  silence  for  an 
hour,  almost  causing  them  to  feel  what  he  feels, 


COMING   AND   GOING.  205 

and  to  believe  what  he  believes,  and  bearing  them 
upward  by  the  witchery  of  his  lofty  eloquence  until 
they  scarcely  know  whether  they  are  in  the  flesh  or 
not,  and  say  if  there  is  aught  of  earth  to  compare 
with  the  power  of  the  human  voice. 


CHAPTER    XX. 

GOSSIP. 

ONE  SUCH  youth  as  Nat  in  a  country  village  is 
the  occasion  of  a  good  deal  of  gossip.  Many 
opinions  are  expressed  in  regard  to  his  motives  and 
prospects,  though  in  this  case  there  were  few  con- 
flicting sentiments.  In  the  sewing  circle,  a  good 
old  lady,  who  could  not  appreciate  education  be- 
cause she  had  none  herself,  said, 

"Nat  is  a  smart  feller,  but  I'm  feared  he'll 
never  be  nothin'  he  thinks  so  much  of  book  lam- 
ing. I  'spose  he  thinks  he  can  get  a  living  by  his 
wits." 

The  old  lady  had  a  half  dozen  champions  of 
the  tongue  down  upon  her  at  once. 

"  No,  no,  Mrs.  Lane,"  said  one,  "  you  judge  Nat 
too  severely.  There  is  no  one  who  attends  to  his 
work  more  closely  than  he  does.  You  never  heard 
one  of  his  employers  complain  that  he  was  indif- 
ferent to  his  business." 

(206) 


gossip.  207 

"  He  only  employs  his  leisure  moments  in  study," 
said  another ;  "  and  I  think  that  is  much  to  his 
credit.  If  more  boys  in  the  village  were  like  him, 
it  would  be  vastly  to  our  credit,  and  theirs,  too." 

"  Yes,"  added  a  third ;  "  and  you  may  be  sure 
that  when  a  boy  is  reading  during  his  evenings, 
and  at  other  spare  moments,  he  is  out  of  mischief, 
and  that  is  something  in  these  days.  There  are 
parents  in  this  town  who  never  know  that  their 
sons  are  spending  their  leisure  time  well,  because 
they  are  so  often  getting  into  bad  scrapes.  I  guess 
if  we  could  look  into  the  tavern  some  evenings,  we 
should  find  some  of  them  there  smoking  and  drink- 
ing." 

"  Wall,"  replied  the  old  lady,  "  that  may  all  be 
true  enough,  but  too  many  edicated  men  are  worse 
than  none  at  all." 

"  Not  if  they  earn  their  living,  as  Nat  does,  and 
get  an  education  into  the  bargain,"  said  one  of  the 
former  speakers.  "  There  is  no  danger  that  our 
sons  and  daughters  will  know  too  much.  Most  of 
them  are  satisfied  with  knowing  too  little." 

"  Wall,  edication  is  good  enough  in  its  place," 
added  Mrs.  Lane,  "  but  what  does  Nat  'spect  to  do 
with  it  in  the  machine-shop  ?  You  won't  make  me 
b'lieve  that  laming  is  good  for  anybody  who  will 
have  no  use  for  it.  'Spose  a  farmer  studies  the  lor, 
what  good  will  it  do  him  if  he  only  farms  it  ?  It 
will  do  him  more  hurt  than  good,  because  he  will 


208  THE   BOBBIN    BOY. 

be  nuther  one  thing  nor  'tother.  If  we  have 
farmers,  let's  have  farmers,  and  if  we  have  ma- 
chinists, let 's  have  machinists. " 

"  Perhaps  Nat  will  not  always  work  at  his  trade," 
suggested  one  of  the  company.  "  There  are  many 
self-made  men  who  are  now  serving  society  much 
better  than  they  would  be  if  they  had  continued  to 
work  at  manual  labor." 

"  Yis,  that 's  it,"  exclaimed  the  old  lady,  w?th 
some  earnestness  ;  "  that  is  jist  what  it  will  come 
to.  These  boys  who  take  so  to  book  laming  will 
stop  working  soon  as  they  b'lieve  they  can  get  their 
bread  and  butter  by  their  wits.  That 's  jist  what  I 
meant  in  the  fust  place.  I  hear  'urn  tell  that  Nat 
goes  to  Boston  nights  to  hear  some  great  speakers, 
and  comes  home  afterwards,  and  I  thinks  it  is 
ventersome.  I  'd  never  let  a  son  of  mine  do  it,  in 
this  world." 

"  Why  ?  why  ?  "  inquired  two  or  three  voices  at 
once. 

"  Why  ?  a  good  reason  why.  You  never  know'd 
a  boy  who  can  be  trusted  in  Boston  nights.  You 
don't  know  where  they'll  go  to,  and  if  ye  do,  there 
are  sharpers  on  the  lookout  to  lead  them  into  evil. 
And  who  knows  but  robbers  might  seize  him  on  his 
way  back  ?     I  should  think  the  boy  was  crazy." 

"  It  is  only  an  illustration  of  his  energy  and 
perseverance,  Mrs.  Lane,"  said  one  of  the  ladies. 
"  He  is  determined  to  know  something,  though  he 


gossip.  209 

has  no  time  to  learn  except  in  his  leisure  hours ; 
and  it  is  really  surprising  how  much  a  person  may 
acquire  by  industry  in  these  fragments  of  time." 

"  There  's  a  nuther  thing,  too,"  continued  Mrs. 
Lane.  "  I  hear  'um  toll  that  Nat  carts  a  book 
about  in  his  pocket  all  the  time  he  works.  Pretty 
business,  I  think,  for  a  youngster  like  him  to  try' to 
be  a  scholar  and  worker  at  once  !  It 's  all  proof  to 
me  that  taking  to  books  so  will  spile  him  for  any 
thing." 

"  One  thing  is  certain,  Mr.-.  Lane,  that  he  does  not 
mean  to  waste  any  time  ;  for  the  book  in  his  pocket 
is  to  take  out  when  he  has  a  minute  to  spare.  If 
he  gets  only  ten  minutes  in  a  day  to  read,  that  will 
be  one  hour  in  the  six  working  days,  which  is  worth 
saving.  That  single  hour  a  day,  in  a  lifetime, 
would  give  a  man  considerable  knowledge." 

"  Wall,  it 's  no  use  arguing  about  it.  Times  are 
so  diff  'rent  now  from  what  they  was  when  I  was 
young,  and  peoples  thinks  so  diff 'rent,  that  it  'pears 
to  me  sometimes  that  the  world  is  going  to  rack 
and  ruin.  We  got  along  well  'nongh  fifty  or  sixty- 
years  ago  without  so  much  edication.  But  folks 
are  got  to  be  so  stylish  now,  and  boys  know  so 
much  more  than  their  grandpas,  that  I  railly  don't 
know  what  '11  come  on  us." 

"  After  all,  Mrs.  Lane,  I  think  you  would  rather 
have  more  boys  like  Nat,  than  like  some  others  I 
could  name,"  said  a  former  speaker. 
14 


210  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

"  Lor,  yis,"  she  replied  ;  "  I  guess  I  should.  1 
allers  liked  Nat.  He 's  a  rale  clever  feller  as  ever 
lived,  and  he  ain't  stuck-up  by  his  smartness,  and 
he  likes  to  see  everybody  well  used.  I  larfed  my- 
self most  to  death  when  I  heard  about  his  waitin' 
on  Hanner  Mann  to  the  party.  It's  jist  like  Nat, 
he  can't  bear  to  see  anybody  slighted." 

"  I  like  to  see  that,"  answered  one  of  the  num- 
ber ;  "  it  is  a  good  sign.  He  thought  Hannah  and 
her  sister  were  slighted  because  their  father  was  poor 
and  intemperate,  and  they  were  not  able  to  dress 
quite  so  well  as  some  others,  and  this  excited  his 
sympathies,  so  that  he  was  determined  they  should 
go  to  the  party." 

"I  know'd  all  about  that,"  replied  Mrs.  Lane, 
"  and  that 's  what  pleased  me  so,  to  see  a  youngstei 
like  him  so  inderpendent,  and  stand  up  for  good 
folks  if  they  are  poor." 

The  reference  here  to  an  incident  of  Nat's  youth- 
ful experience  needs  explanation,  as  the  fact  illus- 
trates an  element  of  his  character  from  childhood, 
and  furnishes  additional  reason  for  the  course  in 
which  his  sympathies  and  better  feelings  ran  there- 
after. Nat  and  Charlie  had  received  invitations  to 
a  social  gathering,  in  connection  with  their  com- 
panions, and  the  following  conversation  and  decision 
occurred  with  reference  to  attending. 

"  There  is  Hannah  Maim,  and  her  sister,"  said 
Nat,  "  they  never  go.    Nobody  thinks  they  are  good 


GOSSIP.  211 

enough  to  associate  with  them,  because  they  are 
poor  and  unable  to  dress  as  well  as  some  others." 

"  I  have  observed  it,"  answered  Charlie.  "  Some 
of  the  girls  are  always  making  sport  of  them,  and  I 
doubt  if  any  of  the  fellows  ever  waited  upon  them. 
Yet  they  are  as  good  as  the  best  of  them,  for  aught 
I  know." 

"  That  is  true,"  added  Nat ;  "  they  appear  well, 
and  are  good  scholars,  and  know  twice  as  much  as 
some  of  the  girls  who  slight  them.  A  splendid  silk 
dress  would  not  improve  their  characters  at  all, 
though  it  might  their  personal  appearance.  I  will 
tell  you  what  I  will  do,  Charlie ;  if  you  will  wait 
upon  one  of  them,  I  will  upon  the  other.  What  do 
you  say  to  it  ?  " 

"  I  say  amen  to  it,"  answered  Charlie.  "  They 
are  as  good  as  I  am  any  day,  and  I  ought  not  to 
endanger  the  characters  of  those  who  are  better  by 
going  with  them." 

"  I  am  in  earnest.  I  mean  just  what  I  say,"  con- 
tinued Nat. 

"  So  am  I  in  earnest,"  said  Charlie,  smiling. 
"  Did  you  think  I  am  joking  ?  " 

"  I  thought  you  looked  rather  unbelieving,  as  if 
you  imagined  I  was  jesting." 

"  No  such  thing  ;  your  proposition  rather  pleased 
me  than  otherwise." 

"  Well,  then,"  said  Nat,  "  it  is  settled  that  we  go 
to  the  party,  and  wait  upon  these  girls,  is  it  ?  " 


212  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

"  Certainly,  if  you  say  so." 

This  decision  was  carried  out.  The  two  sisters 
were  escorted  to  the  party  by  Nat  and  Charlie,  to 
the  surprise  of  some  of  the  better  apparelled  girls, 
who  were  secretly  hoping  to  be  the  fortunate  ones 
themselves.  The  incident  created  quite  a  sensation 
among  the  young  people.  At  first,  they  did  not 
quite  understand  it ;  but  they  were  not  long  in  dis- 
covering that  Nat  intended  to  rebuke  their  ungen- 
erous treatment  of  these  girls.  Some  were  inclined 
to  exhibit  a  little  resentment ;  but  they  soon  per- 
ceived that  it  would  only  make  a  bad  matter  worse. 
Nat  "  laughed  behind  his  ears"  to  see  how  the  thing 
worked,  and  many  a  knowing  glance  was  exchanged 
with  Charlie  in  the  course  of  the  evening.  Before 
sun-down,  on  the  following  day,  the  facts  in  the 
case  were  known  by  many  of  the  villagers.  The 
aristocratic  ones  sneered  at  the  act,  while  others 
commended  it  as  the  fruit  of  a  generous  spirit.  On 
the  whole,  it  did  much  good  in  the  community,  be- 
cause it  caused  many  persons  to  see  the  unkindness 
and  even  cruelty  of  slighting  the  worthy,  on  ac- 
count of  their  humble  origin  and  circumstances. 

That  decision  and  independence,  which  aided 
Nat  so  much  in  his  studies,  enabled  him  to  perform 
this  act.  An  irresolute,  dull,  stupid,  inefficient 
youth,  would  not  have  braved  the  current  of  feel- 
ing that  had  set  against  the  girls.  In  this  way  it 
is,  that  the  leading  elements  of  character  hitherto 


gossip.  213 

discussed  assist  a  youth  in  all  circumstances.  He 
is  more  of  a  man  in  doing  both  little  and  great 
things.  They  dignify  common  politeness  as  really 
as  they  do  achievements  in  art  and  science.  They 
make  the  gentleman  as  truly  as  the  scholar.  Robert 
Burns  was  once  walking  in  the  streets  of  Edin- 
burgh, in  company  with  an  aristocratic  associate, 
when  the  latter  rebuked  him  for  stopping  to  speak 
to  a  rough  but  worthy  farmer  who  had  come  to 
market,  and  Burns'  reply  evinced  just  the  spirit 
which  Nat  admired.  "  Why,  you  fantastic  goine- 
rai,"  said  he,  "  it  was  not  the  great  coat,  the  scone 
bonnet,  and  the  saunders  boots  hose  that  I  spoke  to, 
but  the  man  that  was  in  them ;  and  the  man,  sir, 
for  true  worth,  would  weigh  down  you  and  me,  and 
ten  more  such,  any  day." 


CHAPTER    XXI. 

GOING    TO    THE    THEATRE. 

NAT  HAD  become  an  admirer  of  Shakspeare's 
dramatic  works,  and  hour  after  hour  he  read 
them  with  increasing  interest.  The  more  he  studied 
them,  the  more  he  saw  to  admire.  He  had  never 
seen  one  of  them  acted  on  the  stage,  and.  in  con- 
nection with  the  displays  of  eloquence  to  which'  he 
had  been  a  witness  of  late,  he  became  desirous  of 
witnessing  a  theatrical  performance.  To  heighten 
his  interest,  he  saw  it  announced  that  the  elder 
Booth  would  perform  in  Boston  on  a  given  night. 
He  resolved  to  go. 

"  Marcus,"  said  he,  "  did  you  know  that  Booth  is 
to  perform  at  the  theatre  in  Boston  on  Monday 
night  ?  " 

"  No,"  answered  Marcus,  "  is  it  so  ?  " 

"  It  is  so  announced  in  the  papers,  and  I  think  I 
shall  go." 

"  And  walk  ?  "  inquired  Marcus. 

(214) 


GOING   TO   THE   THEATRE.  215 

"  Yes ;  I  can  walk  there  as  well  as  to  walk  to 
Faneuil  Hall  to  hear  Webster  and  Everett.'' 

"  You  won't  get  home  till  morning." 

"  I  can  get  home  by  one  o'clock,  and  possibly  be- 
fore. I  wish  you  would  go,  and  Frank  and  Char- 
lie." 

"  I  will  go  if  they  will,"  answered  Marcus.  "  I 
should  like  to  see  a  tragedy  acted  for  once." 

"  It  is  said  that  Booth  is  one  of  the  best  readers 
and  speakers  of  Shakspeare,"  continued  Nat,  "  and 
I  want  to  hear  him.  He  is  a  great  imitator,  and 
personates  the  different  characters  exactly.  I  don't 
feel  that  I  know  how  to  read  Shakspeare  very  well ; 
perhaps  I  can  learn  something  about  it  from  him.', 

It  was  decided  to  consult  Frank  and  Charlie, 
and  secure  their  company  if  possible.  Both  of 
them  yielded  to  the  proposition,  though  Charlie 
suggested, 

"  That  many  people  would  think  they  were 
hurrying  to  ruin  if  they  should  hear  of  their 
going." 

"  Perhaps  they  will,"  said  Nat,  "  and  I  have  no 
doubt  that  many  persons  have  been  ruined  by 
going;  but  they  did  not  go  for  the  same  object 
that  we  go.  I  am  not  going  just  for  the  pleasure 
of  witnessing  the  play,  by  any  means  ;  I  want  to 
see  how  the  actors  personate  the  different  charac- 
ters. To  read  Shakspeare  well,  it  must  be  read 
just  as  it  is  spoken." 


216  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

"  No  one  will  stop  to  consider  your  motive  in 
going,  nor  mine,"  said  Charlie.  "  They  think  that 
the  theatre  is  a  bad  place,  and  see  not  why  it  will 
ruin  one  and  not  another." 

"  Well,  I  shall  do  as  I  think  it  is  best  for  myself," 
answered  Nat,  in  that  spirit  of  independence  and 
self-reliance  for  which  he  was  known  ;  "  I  shall  go 
once  to  see,  and  if  I  think  I  can  learn  any  thing 
to  my  advantage,  I  shall  go  again,  and  stop  when 
I  have  obtained  what  I  want." 

"  That's  cool  enough,"  said  Frank  ;  "  you  would 
make  a  good  refrigerator  in  dog-days.  Perhaps 
you  intend  to  be  an  actor  ?  " 

"  No,  I  don't  fancy  the  business.  I  shall  be  sat- 
isfied to  see  one." 

Some  of  their  friends  propounded  objections  to 
this  project,  but  they  were  overruled  by  a  full  and 
clear  statement  of  their  object  in  going.  Then, 
too,  the  general  good  character  which  they  bore, 
and  their  usual  prudence  in  avoiding  bad  company, 
combined  to  remove  more  easily  all  the  objections 
propounded. 

The  evening  of  the  entertainment  was  pleasant, 
and  it  was  indeed  a  new  step  for  them,  as  we  see 
them  standing  at  the  entrance  of  the  theatre.  To 
how  many  it  has  been  the  turning  point  of  life ! 
"  Entrance  to  the  Pit,"  they  read  in  capitals,  with 
a  hand  pointing  thither,  —  and  to  how  many  it  has 
been  emphatically  the  entrance  to  the  pit,  in  a  most 


GOING   TO    THE   THEATRE.  217 

appalling  sense !  It  was  a  hazardous  experiment 
for  Nat  and  bis  companions,  —  even  more  danger- 
ous than  the  attempt  to  swim  four  rods  under 
water.  But  they  entered  with  the  multitude  who 
were  pouring  in,  drawn  thither  by  the  popularity 
of  the  actor  announced.  The  play  commenced, 
and  scene  after  scene  passed  before  the  eyes  of  Nat, 
every  word  of  which  he  had  read  over  and  over 
again  ;  but  now,  for  the  first  time,  he  beheld  the 
characters  in  living  persons.  To  him  it  was  putting 
the  breath  of  life  into  what  was  before  beautiful  but 
dead.  The  play  that  was  classic  and  charming  to 
read,  was  now  human-like  and  wonderful  to  act. 
There  was  more  force,  meaning,  and  power  in  the 
text  .than  he  had  ever  attached  to  it,  —  much  as  he 
had  loved  to  read  it.  Closely  he  observed  the 
distinguished  actor,  noticing  the  utterance  of 
every  word,  and  the  significance  of  every  gesture 
and  motion,  witli  sharp  discrimination,  until  he 
almost  felt  that  he  could  do  the  like  himself.  It 
was  a  memorable  evening  to  Nat,  and  language 
could  scarcely  express  all  he  thought  and  felt. 

"  Nat,  you  will  like  Shakspeare  better  than  ever 
now,  will  you  not  ?  "  said  Charlie. 

"  More  than  that,"  replied  Nat.  "  It  seems  to 
me  I  never  understood  that  play  before.  I  was 
reading  it  the  other  day,  but  it  is  so  much  more 
grand  when  spoken  and  acted,  that  I  should  hardly 
know  it." 


218  THE   BOBBIN    BOY. 

"  Did  you  observe  the  bar  when  yon  was  coming 
out  ? "  inquired  Frank,  addressing  himself  to 
Marcus. 

"  Yes,  and  I  thought  by  the  appearance  they  did 
quite  a  business  in  the  line  of  drinking." 

"  They  always  have  bars  in  theatres,"  said  Nat, 
"  and  that  is  one  reason  why  they  lead  persons  to 
ruin.  No  doubt  many  are  drawn  there  as  much 
by  the  bar  as  they  are  by  the  play." 

"  What  is  the  reason  they  can't  have  a  theatre 
without  having  such  vices  connected  with  it  ?  "  in- 
quired Charlie. 

"  Because  they  don't  try,"  answered  Nat.  "  I 
suppose  that  theatres  are  generally  managed  by 
men  who  are  in  favor  of  drinking,  and  they  would 
not  shut  out  such  things  of  course.  I  think  that 
men  of  principle  might  establish  one  that  would  be 
unobjectionable ;  for  they  would  allow  no  such 
evils  to  be  harbored  there." 

"  Perhaps  you  can  get  Parson  Fiske  and  Deacon 
White  to  get  one  up,"  said  Marcus,  laughing  at 
Nat's  suggestion,  "  and  then  you  won't  have  to 
walk  ten  miles  and  back  to  witness  a  play." 

"  Ten  miles  or  not,"  said  Nat, "  I  have  been  well 
paid  to-night.  There  is  a  great  deal  to  be  learned 
in  witnessing  one  such  performance.  I  can  read 
Shakspeare  now  with  more  interest  and  profit 
than  ever.  I  want  to  hear  '  The  Tempest '  played 
now,  and  '  King  Lear,'  and  '  Hamlet,'  and  '  Romeo 


GOING  TO   THE  THEATER.  219 

and  Juliet,'  and  I  mean  to  the  first  chance  I 
have." 

"  Ah,  Nat,"  said  Charlie,  "  I  see  that  it  is  a  fore- 
gone conclusion  with  you,  —  you  are  half  ruined 
now,  —  the  more  you  have,  the  more  you  want. 
We  shall  be  obliged  to  look  after  him  more  close- 
ly," addressing  the  last  sentence  to  Marcus  and 
Frank. 

"  Yes,"  added  Marcus,  "  by  the  time  he  has 
Jieard  all  these  plays,  he  will  be  patronizing  that 
bar,  and  we  shall  see  him  reported  in  the  Police 
Court  in  the  morning." 

By  the  time  the  clock  struck  one,  Nat  was  at 
home.  His  visit  to  the  theatre  was  not  kept  secret. 
It  was  soon  quite  generally  known  that  he  had  been 
to  the  theatre,  and  many  remarks  were  elicited  by 
the  fact.  Good  people  did  not  respect  theatres 
more  at  that  time  than  they  do  now,  so  that  they 
regarded  this  step  of  Nat  as  taken  in  the  wrong 
direction. 

"I  am  afraid  that  all  the  hopes  Nat  has  raised 
among  his  friends  will  be  dashed  now,"  said  one. 
u  When  a  youth  gets  to  going  to  the  theatre,  there 
is  little  hope  of  his  doing  well.  I  hardly  thought 
this  of  him." 

"  I  thought  Nat  always  wanted  things  respecta- 
ble," said  a  gentleman.  "  Does  he  consider  the 
theatre  a  respectable  place  ?  " 

"  What  has  he  done  with  his  books  ?  "  inquired 


220  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

another.  "  I  supposed  that  he  thought  of  little  but 
an  education,  —  does  he  find  the  theatre  a  good 
school  in  which  to  be  educated  ?  " 

"  It  is  a  good  school  in  which  to  be  educated  for 
evil,"  replied  the  individual  to  whom  the  remark 
was  addressed. 

One  person,  however,  was  heard  to  say, 

"  It  will  not  hurt  Nat  at  all.  You  may  be  sure 
that  he  did  not  go  there  just  for  the  pleasure  of  the 
thing.  I  have  no  doubt  that  he  went  for  the  same 
reason  that  he  went  to  hear  Webster,  Everett,  and 
others  speak,  —  to  learn  something.  He  was  drawn 
thither,  not  by  his  love  of  amusement,  but  by  his 
desire  to  learn.  Nat  learns  more  by  seeing,  than 
half  the  scholars  do  by  hard  study." 

"  What  in  the  world  could  he  learn  there  that  is 
good  ?  "  inquired  a  person  who  heard  the  last  re- 
mark. 

"  He  could  learn  how  to  speak  better,  if  nothing 
else,"  was  the  reply.  "  And  that  he  said,  in  the 
beginning,  was  his  object  in  going.  When  he  has 
acquired  what  he  thinks  he  can  get  there  to  aid  him, 
you  will  see  that  he  will  stop." 

"  And  by  that  time  he  may  be  ruined,"  was  the 
reply. 

Nat  carried  out  his  resolution,  and  went  to  the 
theatre  a  number  of  times,  to  hear  certain  plays, 
walking  to  Boston  and  back  each  time.  One  re- 
sult of  his  visits  was  to  increase  his  interest  in  Shak- 


GOING   TO   THE   THEATRE.  221 

spcare,  so  that  he  began  to  practise  reading  his 
plays  aloud,  and  personating  the  different  charac- 
ters. He  made  decided  progress  in  this  art,  and 
subsequently  gave  public  readings  of  Shakspeare, 
by  which  he  gained  much  applause.  The  result 
satisfied  nearly  every  one,  that  he  went  to  the 
theatre  simply  to  observe  the  manner  of  speaking, 
as  he  went  to  hear  distinguished  orators. 

That  the  object  for  which  a  youth  visits  the 
theatre  will  decide,  in  a  great  measure,  its  influence 
upon  him,  no  one  can  deny,  and  it  is  so  with  all 
forms  of  amusement.  If  he  is  drawn  thither  by  the 
fascination  of  the  play  alone,  yielding  himself  up  to 
the  witchery  of  it,  without  any  regard  to  the  intel- 
lectual or  moral  character  of  the  scenic  representa- 
tions, he  is  in  a  dangerous  path.  A  large  majority 
of  those  who  visit  the  theatre  with  this  motive,  as 
mere  thoughtless  pleasure-lovers,  are  probably 
ruined. 

The  youthful  reader  should  not  infer  that  it  is 
altogether  safe  to  visit  the  theatre,  even  for  the  rea- 
son that  Nat  did.  It  was  a  hazardous  step  for  him 
on  account  of  the  attractions  that  are  thrown 
around  it  to  dazzle  and  bewilder.  A  high  aim,  in 
the  path  of  knowledge,  and  great  energy  and  decis- 
ion of  character  to  execute  his  purpose,  were  his 
protection.  Perhaps  not  ten  of  a  hundred  youth 
could  do  the  same  tiling,  and  be  saved  from  ruin. 
Augustine  tells  of  a  Christian  young  man  who  w**s 


222  THE   BOBBIN    BOY. 

prevailed  upon  to  visit  the  amphitheatre  to  witness 
the  gladiatorial  games.  He  was  unfriendly  to  such 
sports,  and  consented  to  go  solely  to  please  his  com- 
panion. For  his  own  protection  he  resolved  to  close 
his  eyes  that  he  might  not  be  influenced  by  the  scene. 
For  some  time  he  kept  his  eyes  closed  ;  but,  at 
length,  a  tremendous  shout  caused  him  to  open  them, 
and  look  out  upon  the  arena.  In  an  instant,  he  was 
fired  with  the  spirit  of  those  around  him, — he  cheer- 
ed the  gladiators  on,  —  he  shouted  with  all  his  might, 
—  and  ever  after  he  became  a  constant  patron  of 
the  games.  So  it  is  often  with  the  youth,  in  our 
day,  who  goes  to  the  theatre  for  once  only.  He 
merely  wants  to  see  what  the  theatre  is,  resolved, 
perhaps,  that  he  will  never  be  known  as  a  theatre- 
goer. But  he  cannot  withstand  the  fascination. 
Once  going  has  created  an  irresistible  desire  to  go 
again,  and  again,  and  again,  until  his  character  is 
ruined.  Where  one  derives  the  impulse  and  knowl- 
edge that  Nat  did,  a  hundred  are  destroyed.  It  is 
not  wise,  then,  to  try  the  experiment.  It  is  acquir- 
ing knowledge  at  too  great  a  risk.  Who  would 
cross  a  rough  and  stormy  river  where  he  knew  that 
only  one  in  a  hundred  had  reached  the  other  shore  ? 
Theatres  have  always  been  schools  of  vice.  There 
never  was  a  time  when  their  influence  was  good. 
At  the  time  our  country  was  struggling  for  inde- 
pendence, Congress  passed  an  act  recommending 
the  different  States  to  suppress  theatrical  perfor- 


GOING   TO   THE   THEATRE.  223 

mances  by  law  ;  and  soon  after  they  passed  another 
act  declaring  that  no  person  who  visited  the  theatre 
should  hold  an  office  under  the  government.  It 
seems  impossible  to  make  them  otherwise  than  dis- 
reputable. Attempts  have  been  made  to  establish 
respectable  theatres,  but  they  have  always  failed. 
Such  an  attempt  was  made  to  reform  one  of  the 
royal  theatres  of  London,  some  years  ago,  and  the 
committee  to  whom  the  subject  was  submitted  re- 
ported that  the  institution  could  not  be  supported 
after  such  reform.  The  experiment  was  actually 
tried  with  the  late  Tremont  Theatre,  in  Boston. 
Intoxicating  drinks  were  not  allowed  to  be  sold, 
and  no  females  were  admitted  unaccompanied  by 
gentlemen,  as  the  better  class  of  people  would  not 
attend  if  profligate  '  persons  were  admitted.  But 
the  theatre  could  not  be  supported  on  these  princi- 
ples, and  the  plan  was  abandoned.  A  report  was 
published,  in  which  it  was  stated,  that  if  the  rent 
of  the  building  was  free,  it  could  not  be  sustained 
by  the  reform  system.  Intemperance  and  licen- 
tiousness appear  to  be  indispensable  to  support  the 
theatre.  There  is  good  reason,  then,  for  the  legend 
recorded  by  Tertullian,  running  as  follows :  A 
Christian  woman  went  to  the  theatre,  and  came 
home  possessed  of  a  demon.  Her  confessor,  seek- 
ing to  cast  out  the  evil  one,  demanded  of  him  how 
he  dared  to  take  possession  of  a  believer,  who,  by 
holy  baptism,  had  been  redeemed  out  of  his  king- 


224  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

dom.  "  I  have  done  nothing  but  what  is  proper," 
said  the  devil,  "  for  I  found  her  on  my  own  terri- 
tory." He  might  have  made  a  captive  of  Nat  for 
the  same  reason. 

Some  pronounce  this  hostility  to  theatres  a  pre- 
judice of  Christian  ministers  and  their  sympa- 
thizers, but  this  is  not  true.  The  popular  actor, 
Macready,  who  won  a  world-wide  fame  in  the 
business,  by  his  long  connection  with  the  stage,  ex- 
pressed a  similar  opinion  of  theatres  after  he  left 
the  play.  He  settled  in  Sherbourne,  England,  where 
he  had  a  pleasant,  promising  family,  and  one  rule 
to  which  his  children  were  subjected  was,  "  None 
of  my  children  shall  ever,  with  my  consent  or  on 
any  pretence,  enter  a  theatre,  or  have  any  visiting 
connection  with  actors  and  actresses."  The  hon- 
ored Judge  Bulstrode  at  one  time  expressed  the 
feelings  of  the  English  bench,  when,  in  his  charge 
to  the  grand  jury  of  Middlesex,  he  said,  "  One 
play-house  ruins  more  souls  than  fifty  churches 
are  able  to  save."  Sir  Matthew  Hale  relates  that 
when  he  was  at  Oxford,  he  was  making  rapid  ad- 
vancement in  his  studies  when  the  stage-players 
came  thither,  and  he  went  to  the  performance,  and 
became  so  corrupted  that  he  almost  entirely  for- 
sook his  studies.  He  was  saved  only  by  resolving 
never  to  attend  another  play.  Even  the  infidel, 
Rousseau,  condemned  theatres.  He  said,  "  I  ob- 
serve that  the  situation  of  an  actor  is  a  state  of 


GOING   TO   THE   THEATRE.  225 

licentiousness  and  bad  morals ;  that  the  men  are 
abandoned  to  disorder ;  that  the  women  lead  a 
scandalous  life ;  that  the  one  and  the  other,  at 
once  avaricious  and  profane,  ever  overwhelmed 
with  debt,  and  ever  prodigal,  are  as  unrestrained 
in  their  dissipation  as  they  are  void  of  scruple  in 
respect  to  the  means  of  providing  for  it.  In  all 
countries  their  profession  is  dishonorable  ;  those 
who  exercise  it  are  everywhere  contemned. " 

15 


CHAPTER    XXII. 

THE    DRAMATIC    SOCIETY. 

H  T  ET  US  form  a  dramatic  society,"  said  Nat  tc 

J-'  his  companions,  one  day.  "  Perhaps  we  can 
Imj,t  an  extra  touch  on  'Henry  the  Eighth'  or 
*The  Merchant  of  Venice.'  " 

"  I  should  laugh,"  answered  Charlie,  "  to  see  us 
undertaking  the  drama.  I  guess  it  would  be 
straining  at  a  gnat  (Nat)  and  swallowing  a  camel," 
attempting  to  perpetrate  a  pun,  over  which  he,  at 
whose  expense  it  was  said,  laughed  as  heartily  as 
any  of  them. 

"  Let  Charlie  laugh  as  much  as  he  pleases,"  said 
Marcus,  "  I  think  we  could  do  well  in  such  an 
enterprise.  We  might  not  eclipse  Booth,  but  we 
could  get  along  without  a  bar  and  some  other 
things  as  bad." 

"You  will  find,"  continued  Charlie,  "that  a 
play  of  Shakspeare  will  not  go  off  very  well  with- 
out scenery." 

(226) 


THE   DRAMATIC   SOCIETY.  227 

"  Of  course  it  would  not,"  replied  Nat.  "  But 
we  must  have  scenery  of  some  kind." 

"  Where  will  you  get  it  ?  " 

"  Make  it,"  quickly  responded  Nat.  "  It  will  be 
an  easy  matter  to  paint  such  representations  as 
will  answer  our  purpose." 

"  So  you  will  turn  actor  and  artist  all  at  once," 
said  Charlie.  "  What  will  you  try  to  do  next, 
Nat?" 

"  As  to  that,"  answered  Nat,  "  I  will  let  you 
know  when  I  have  done  this.  '  One  tiling  at  a 
time,'  was  Dr.  Franklin's  rule.  But  say,  now, 
will  you  all  enlist  for  a  dramatic  society  ?  " 

Frank  and  Marcus  replied  promptly  in  the  affirm- 
ative, and  Charlie  brought  up  the  rear,  by  saying, 

"  Well,  I  suppose  I  must  be  on  the  popular  side, 
and  go  with  the  majority  —  yea." 

Here  was  one  of  the  fruits  of  going  to  the 
theatre.  What  had  been  witnessed  there  created 
the  desire  to  undertake  the  same,  although  Nat's 
object  was  to  improve  himself  in  rhetorical  exer- 
cises. But  the  enterprise  grew  out  of  his  visits  to 
the  theatre,  and  was  well  suited  to  excite  critical 
remarks.  It  is  probable  that  most  actors  and 
actresses  are  made  so  by  first  witnessing  theatri- 
cal performances.  We  are  acquainted  with  a  per- 
son, whose  nephew  is  an  actor,  with  no  purer 
character  than  actors  usually  possess.  He  was  a 
lover  of  books   in  his   youth ;    and  his  desire  to 


228  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

become  an  actor  was  begotten  in  the  theatre.  He 
was  so  delighted  with  what  he  saw  on  the  stage, 
that  he  finally  resolved  to  make  stage-playing  his 
profession ;  and  he  now  belongs  to  that  unhonored 
fraternity.  It  is  not  strange  that  some  people  were 
surprised  that  Nat  should  originate  such  a  society. 

"  What  shall  we  play  ?  "  inquired  Frank,  on  the 
evening  the  dramatic  society  was  organized. 

"  '  Macbeth,'  "  replied  Nat,  who  had  witnessed 
this  at  the  theatre.  "  It  may  be  more  difficult 
than  some  others,  but  it  is  one  of  the  best  plays." 

"  You  must  get  up  the  scenery,"  said  Frank. 

"  With  the  assistance  of  the  rest  of  you,"  replied 
Nat.  "  It  will  be  no  great  affair  to  paint  what  we 
want  for  this  play." 

"  How  long  will  it  take  ?  "  inquired  Marcus. 

"  We  can  do  it  in  two  evenings,"  answered  Nat. 
"  We  ought  not  to  be  longer  than  that,  if  we  intend 
to  commit  the  play  so  as  to  act  it  next  week." 

"  No  one  but  members  of  the  society  will  be 
admitted,  I  suppose,"  said  Charlie,  "  until  we  have 
thoroughly  practised  the  play." 

"  No ;  we  must  speak  it  over  and  over,  so  that  it 
will  be  perfectly  familiar,  before  we  attempt  it  be- 
fore visitors." 

On  that  evening  the  society  was  organized  by  the 
choice  of  officers  and  the  adoption  of  a  constitution 
and  by-laws.  Nat  had  the  chief  agency  in  prepar- 
ing the  constitution  and  by-laws,  as  he  did  in  the 


THE    DRAMATIC    SOCIETY.  229 

debating  society,  and  he  found  that  a  knowledge 
of  grammar  was  indeed  a  decided  assistance.  He 
was  often  reminded  of  the  remarks  of  his  teacher, 
when  he  (Nat)  was  opposed  to  studying  the 
science. 

It  was  decided  to  act  "  Macbeth,"  and  the  parts 
were  assigned,  and  the  time  of  the  first  meeting 
appointed.  Many  of  the  young  people  joined  the 
society,  and  were  much  interested  in  its  object. 
Such  an  organization  was  suited  to  awaken  more 
enthusiasm  among  the  young,  than  a  debating 
society. 

It  was  a  pleasant  evening  on  which  the  play  was 
to  be  performed  for  the  first  time,  and  every 
member  of  the  society  was  there,  curious  to  behold 
the  result.  It  went  off  with  considerable  eclat, 
although  there  were  some  blunders  and  mistakes, 
as  might  have  been  expected.  Even  Charlie,  who 
was  incredulous  about  their  success,  confessed  that 
it  passed  off  very  well.  The  scenery,  which  had 
been  prepared  by  the  boys,  under  Nat's  direction, 
was  quite  decent,  and  it  showed  that  Nat's  early 
practice  of  drawing  was  very  useful  to  him  now. 
It  would  not  bear  very  close  inspection,  it  is  true ; 
but  a  short  distance  off,  and  by  lamp-light,  it  looked 
very  well. 

Thus  evening  after  evening  they  met,  with  closed 
doors,  to  practise  the  piece.  At  length,  conclud- 
ing  that   they  could  entertain  an  audience,  they 


230  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

decided  upon  a  public  performance.  The  plan  was 
adopted  with  much  spirit,  and  all  were  resolved  to 
do  their  best. 

The  entertainment  was  given  at  the  appointed 
time,  and  a  good  audience  assembled.  Each  one 
performed  his  part  well,  but  Nat,  as  usual,  was 
thought  to  excel. 

"  I  had  no  idea  the  boys  would  do  so  well,"  said 
Mr.  Graves.  "  I  am  surprised  that  Nat  should 
perform  so  handsomely ;  he  would  make  a  com- 
plete actor  with  practice." 

"  Marcus  did  very  well  indeed,"  replied  the 
gentleman  to  whom  he  addressed  the  remark  ;  "  in 
fact,  all  of  them  exceeded  my  expectations.  But 
Nat  plays  as  if  he  were  perfectly  at  home." 

"  I  don't  know  about  the  influence  of  such 
things,"  added  Mr.  Graves.  "  I  have  my  fears  that 
such  a  society  will  foster  a  love  for  theatrical  exhi- 
bitions of  a  far  more  exceptionable  character." 

"  I  feel  exactly  so,  too.  I  think  it  may  lead 
some  of  the  young  people  here  to  attend  the  thea- 
tre, when  otherwise  they  would  not.  There  is  no 
doubt  that  Nat  originated  this  society  in  consequence 
of  attending  the  theatre  himself.  If  nothing  worse 
than  such  an  exhibition  as  we  have  had  to-night 
would  grow  out  of  it,  it  would  be  well  enough. 
I  would  say  amen  to  it.  But  I  fear  that  it  will 
lead  to  something  else." 

"  There  is  the  danger,"  replied  Mr.  G.    "  Young 


THE   DRAMATIC   SOCIETY.  231 

people  are  easily  led  astray  by  such  appeals  to  their 
senses,  and  the  more  easily  because  they  do  not 
see  any  evil  in  them.  It  is  just  as  it  is  with 
using  intoxicating  drinks.  A  young  man  sees  no 
wrong  in  sipping  a  little  wine  at  a  party  ;  but  that 
first  wine-glass  may  create  an  appetite  that  will 
make  him  a  drunkard.  So  the  sight  of  such  a 
theatrical  performance  as  this  may  lead  some  of  the 
boys  to  want  to  witness  a  play  on  a  grander  scale 
at  the  theatre." 

The  exhibition  of  the  Dramatic  Society  occasioned 
many  remarks  like  the  above  in  the  village.  Some 
people  had  expressed  their  opinions  unfavorably 
before  the  exhibition,  but  this  settled  the  matter  in 
their  view.  The  very  skill  which  the  boys  displayed 
in  the  performance  served  to  awaken  still  greater 
fears ;  for  the  greater  the  witchery  of  the  play,  the 
more  danger  to  the  young. 

"  Thar,"  said  old  Mrs.  Lane,  who  entertained  us 
on  a  former  occasion,  "  I  knowd  that  it  would  turn 
out  so.  It  is  jist  what  I  telled  ye,  when  I  heard 
Nat  went  to  Boston  nights  arter  great  speakers. 
You  '11  have  to  b'lieve  me  byme  bye  whether  or  no." 

"  Ah ! "  said  the  lady  addressed,  "  it  would  all 
have  been  well  enough  if  Nat  had  confined  his 
attention  to  that.  Perhaps  it  will  be  well  enough 
now,  though  I  fear  that  theatrical  performances  will 
have  a  bad  influence." 

"  Pesky  bad,"  replied  the  old   lady.      "  When 


282  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

boys  are  runnin  arter  such  things  allers,  there  is  no 
tellin  whar  they  '11  stop.  And  thar  's  the  danger  of 
too  much  edication.  If  Nat  had  stuck  to  his 
bobbin,  and  never  knowd  any  thing  else,  I  guess  it 
would  turn  out  better  for  him  in  the  eend.  I  don't 
b'lieve  in  so  many  new-fangled  notions  as  they 
have  in  these  ere  times." 

"  I  have  no  fears  for  Nat,"  responded  the  lady , 
"  for  I  think  he  participates  in  these  things  for  self- 
improvement  ;  but  others  may  do  it  for  the  sake  of 
the  amusement.  I  am  afraid  that  others  may 
imbibe  a  taste  for  the  drama,  and  become  theatre- 
goers in  consequence." 

"  You  seem  to  think  that  Nat  can't  be  spiled  ; 
but  I  take  it  that  his  good  motives  can't  make  the 
theatre  good.  It  is  a  corruptions  place,  anyhow, 
and  if  it  don't  spile  him,  it  won't  be  because  it  ain't 
toad  enough." 

"  Time  will  show  us  the  result,"  continued  the 
lady.  "  But  they  say  Nat  exhibited  marked  talents 
for  the  drama  at  the  exhibition.  Several  persons 
have  told  me  that  they  were  surprised  at  his  ability, 
but  I  am  not ;  for  he  always  excels  in  whatever  he 
undertakes.  He  enters  into  every  thing  with  all 
his  heart,  and  does  it  with  all  his  might." 

"  Lor,  yes,  we  all  know  that,"  replied  Mrs.  Lane  ; 
"  and  so  I  reckon  that  if  the  theatre  should  spile 
him,  he  would  be  wicked  with  all  his  might.  He'd 
make  a  rale  prodergul  son,  only  more  so." 


THE   DRAMATIC    SOCIETY.  283 

On  the  point  of  Nat's  excellence  in  performing 
the  drama,  the  following  conversation  took  place 
after  this  public  entertainment. 

"  You  ought  to  be  an  actor,"  said  Charlie  to  him. 
"  You  are  exactly  cut  out  for  it,  and  every  one 
who  heard  you  the  other  night  would  tell  you  so." 

"  So  far  as  that  is  concerned,"  answered  Nat, 
"the  profession  of  an  actor  is  the  last  one  I  should 
choose." 

"  Why  ?  "  inquired  Charlie.  "  I  thought  you 
was  in  love  with  the  business." 

"  By  no  means.  I  have  told  you  over  and  over 
my  object  in  going  to  the  theatre,  and  in  forming 
the  Dramatic  Society,  but  you  always  appear  to 
doubt  me.  I  would  not  be  an  actor  even  if  1 
could  be  as  famous  as  Booth." 

"  You  would  not  ?  and  yet  many  seem  to  think 
you  have  a  taste  in  that  direction,  and  i"  have 
thought  so  too.     But  tell  me  why  not." 

"  Because  I  have  little  respect  for  the  business  as 
a  profession.  It  affords  a  brief  pleasure  to  an  audi- 
ence for  a  short  time,  and  that  is  all  it  amounts  to. 
I  think  it  is  a  good  discipline  for  us  in  the  Dramatic 
Society,  and  I  know  that  I  learned  some  valuable 
lessons  at  the  theatre,  and  I  am  still  of  the  opinion 
that  a  theatre  might  be  so  conducted  as  to  prove  a 
source  of  innocent  amusement,  and  not  a  curse." 

"  You  could  n't  make  many  of  the  people  in  this 
community   believe    that,"    said    Charlie.     "  They 


234  THE  BOBBIN  BOY. 

think  it  is  a  gone  case  with  you  since  you  have  fa- 
vored theatricals." 

"  I  know  that,"  replied  Nat,  "  and  they  would 
not  believe  me  if  I  should  tell  them  what  I  have 
you,  so  that  I  see  no  way  to  convince  them  but  to 
wait,  and  time  will  do  it.  I  would  carry  bobbin  all 
my  life  before  I  would  be  an  actor." 

"  Well,  what  would  you  be,  Nat,  if  you  could 
have  your  own  way?  "  inquired  Charlie. 

"  I  would  be  an  orator  and  statesman  like  Ed- 
ward Everett,"  quickly  answered  Nat.  "  I  always 
had  great  respect  for  such  men.  It  is  easy  to  re- 
spect them ;  but  no  man  can  cherish  high  respect 
for  an  actor." 

Here  the  conversation  was  interrupted. 


CHAPTER    XXIII. 

THE    SURPRISE. 

«  TTEARD   THE  news,  Nat  ?  "      quired  Frank 

-"-  one  morning. 

"  No,  what  is  it  ?  " 

"  The  men  are  going  to  annihilate  our  Dramatic 
Society  in  the  lyceum  next  week.  They  are  going 
to  debate  a  question  about  dramatic  exhibitions,  I 
understand." 

"  Oh,  I  had  heard  of  that,"  replied  Nat.  "  We 
seem  to  be  of  much  consequence  just  now.  I 
hardly  thought  we  were  able  to  create  such  a  com- 
motion. " 

"  It  seems  we  are,"  said  Frank,  "  so  you  may 
expect  to  be  finished  within  a  week.  Better  write 
your  will,  and  prepare  to  be  made  mince-meat  of." 

"  The  rest  of  you  will  come  in  for  a  share,"  said 
Nat,  "  so  I  shall  have  a  plenty  of  company,  and 
'  misery  loves  company '  they  say." 

"  But  you   are  the  chief  sinner,"  said  Frank, 

(235  ) 


236  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

smilingly.  "  You  started  the  thing,  and  carried 
off  all  the  glory  of  performing,  so  you  will  have  to 
shoulder  the  consequences." 

"  Not  a  very  heavy  burden,  I  am  thinking,"  re- 
sponded Nat.  "  I  see  no  need  of  making  such  a 
fuss  about  a  trifle,  just  as  if  we  boys  would  spoil  the 
whole  town !  If  Shakspeare  were  alive  he  might 
write  another  comedy  on  it  like  '  Much  Ado  About 
Nothing.'  If  the  town  is  so  dependent  on  us,  I 
think  they  ought  to  make  us  the  fathers  of  it." 

The  truth  was,  that  the  Dramatic  Society  had 
created  quite  a  commotion,  as  we  saw,  in  part,  in  a 
previous  chapter.  The  good  people  of  the  village 
were  afraid  of  the  consequences,  as  well  they  might 
be,  and  the  matter  was  discussed  in  many  family 
circles,  in  social  gatherings,  in  the  street  and  other 
places,  until  so  much  interest  was  awakened  on 
both  sides,  that  the  subject  was  introduced  into  the 
town  lyceum. 

In  the  hall  that  was  dedicated  when  Nat  was 
twelve  year?  old,  and  where  he  heard  the  address 
upon  the  life  and  character  of  Count'  Eumford  by 
which  he  was  so  much  impressed,  there  was  a  ly- 
ceum sustained  by  the  citizens.  It  was  here  that 
the  subject  of  dramatical  exhibitions  was  introduced 
by  a  proposition  to  discuss  the  following  question, 

"  Are  Dramatical  Exhibitions  beneficial  to 
Society  ? " 

No  question  had  elicited  so  much  interest  as  this, 


THE    SURPRISE.  237 

pro  and  con,  so  that  a  large  attendance  was  confi- 
dently expected. 

"  Are  you  going  to  hear  the  Dramatic  Society 
used  up  to-night  ?  "  inquired  Marcus  of  Nat,  on  the 
day  of  the  proposed  discussion. 

"  Certainly ;  I  am  curious  to  see  how  the  thing 
will  be  done.  I  wouldn't  fail  of  it  for  any  thing. 
Let  us  all  go,  and  save  the  pieces  if  we  can." 

"  I  expect  they  are  preparing  for  a  warm  debate, 
from  all  I  hear ;  and  there  will  be  a  crowd  there," 
said  Marcus. 

Nat  and  his  boon  companions  were  at  the  hall  in 
good  season,  to  secure  seats  near  the  debaters.  The 
hall  was  filled  by  the  time  the  hour  for  opening  had 
arrived,  and  a  spicy  time  was  expected.  The  presi- 
dent called  the  meeting  to  order,  the  records  of  the 
last  meeting  were  read,  and  other  preliminaries  dis- 
posed of,  when  the  question  for  discussion  was  an- 
nounced. Mr.  Bryant,  an  intelligent  and  influential 
man,  opened  the  debate,  and  remarked,  in  sub- 
stance, as  follows : 

"  It  is  enough  to  know  the  origin  of  theatrical 
exhibitions.  According  to  the  best  authorities, 
when  theatrical  exhibitions  were  first  given,  an  old 
cart  was  the  stage,  the  chief  actor  was  a  coarse 
mimic  or  clown,  the  music  was  discoursed  by  itin- 
erant singers,  and  the  poem  itself  was  a  motley 
combination  of  serious  and  ludicrous  ideas.  These 
performances  were  first  given  in  honor  of  the  god 


238  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

of  wine,  Bacchus,  which  accounts,  I  suppose,  for 
the  fact  that  a  theatre  cannot  live  without  a  bar. 
On  certain  festive  days,  they  acted  these  plays  often 
in  the  most  indecent  manner,  with  drunkenness 
and  debauchery  abounding  —  scenes  which  are  re- 
enacted  in  theatres  at  the  present  day.  Now,  they 
have  a  more  splendid  stage,  within  a  costly,  spacious 
building,  but  there  is  little  or  no  improvement  in 
the  purity  of  the  play  and  its  incidentals.  It  is 
just  as  demoralizing  now  as  it  was  then,  and  has 
been  so  in  every  age  of  the  world.  For  that  reason, 
such  exhibitions  have  been  suppressed,  at  times,  in 
some  countries,  and  this  was  the  case,  at  one  period, 
in  our  own  land." 

Mr.  Bryant  was  followed  by  a  gentleman  on  the 
other  side  of  the  subject,  but,  for  a  reason  that  will 
be  obvious  to  the  reader  before  he  gets  through  the 
chapter,  we  shall  not  report  the  arguments  in  the 
negative. 

Another  speaker  said  "  that  the  characters  of  the 
actors  were  loose,  exceedingly  so  ;  and  if  the  audi- 
ence could  learn  something  of  human  nature  there, 
it  was  only  the  debasing  side  of  it.  It  is  generally 
true  that  actors  lend  their  influence  to  intemper- 
ance, licentiousness,  and  irreligion.  They  do  not 
patronize  Sabbath  schools,  churches,  and  other 
Christian  institutions,  but  they  patronize  bars, 
gambling  saloons,  and  houses  of  ill-fame.  Many 
of  those  men  even  who  go  to  the  theatre,  would 


THE   SURPRISE.  239 

be  quite  unwilling  to  introduce  actors  to  the  society 
of  their  sons  and  daughters.  They  are  so  well  con- 
vinced that  this  class  are  corrupt  and  unprincipled, 
that  they  would  exclude  them  from  the  fireside." 

Another  speaker,  in  the  affirmative,  said  :  "  As  a 
general  thing,  dramatic  literature  is  immoral  and 
debasing.  I  admit  that  the  tragedies  of  Shakspeare 
are  a  pattern  of  classic  elegance  and  dignity,  yet 
there  are  passages  even  in  his  works  that  never 
should  be  read  or  spoken  in  the  hearing  of  others. 
In  them  vice  is  often  stripped  of  its  deformity, 
while  virtue  is  made  to  appear  to  disadvantage. 
The  youth  who  witnesses  a  play  where  vice  is  made 
to  appear  as  an  indiscretion  rather  than  a  sin,  is 
likely  to  think  less  of  virtue,  and  more  favorably 
of  vice.  An  English  scholar  has  taken  pains  to 
read  all  the  plays  of  the  stage  of  England,  and 
mark  all  the  profane  or  indecent  passages  unfit  to 
be  read  or  spoken  in  a  public  assembly,  and  he  has 
found  seven  thousand.  During  the  reign  of  King 
James  the  First,  an  act  was  passed  '  For  the  pre- 
venting and  avoiding  the  great  abuse  of  the  holy 
name  of  God  in  stage-plays.'  Addison  condemned 
the  theatre  '  for  ridiculing  religion,  and  for  repre- 
senting the  rake  and  debauchee  as  the  true  gentle- 
man.'  It  is  vain  to  attempt  to  defend  the  moral 
character  of  dramatic  writings." 

The  first  speaker  rising  to  address  the  audience 
the  second  time,  said,  "  that  the  class  of  persons 


240  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

who  generally  patronize  the  theatre  are  the  most 
frivolous  and  useless  part  of  the  community. 
Moral  and  religious  citizens  do  not  lend  it  their 
influence,  but  those  who  are  indifferent  or  hostile 
to  Christian  institutions.  Fathers  and  mothers 
who  are  careless  of  the  example  they  set  their 
children  ;  vain  followers  of  the  fashions,  who  think 
more  of  a  golden  trinket  than  they  do  of  virtue ; 
idle  and  dissipated  hangers-on  of  society;  fast 
young  men  in  the  road  to  ruin  ;  vicious  young 
women  ;  dissolute  men,  whose  vices  would  horrify 
every  sensitive  heart  were  they  uncovered  ;  with  a 
sprinkling,  perhaps,  of  better  people  who  forget, 
for  the  time  being,  what  company  they  are  in  ;  — 
these  constitute  the  principal  patrons  of  the  stage. 
Now,  then,  this  single  fact  is  enough  to  brand  the 
character  of  theatres  as  corrupt  and  pernicious. 
There  is  not  a  person  in  this  hall  who  would  think 
well  of  the  principles  of  a  man  of  whom  you  might 
be  told,  '  he  is  an  habitual  theatre-goer.'  You 
would  infer  that  his  principles  were  loose,  and,  in 
nine  cases  out  of  ten,  your  inference  would  be 
correct." 

Thus  the  usual  arguments  against  theatres  were 
quite  thoroughly  pressed,  and  were  met  by  the 
usual  ones  on  the  opposite  side,  though  it  was 
evident  that  the  negative  realized  they  had  a  diffi- 
cult subject  to  defend. 

Nat  listened  to  the  discussion  with  constantly  in- 


THE   SURPRISE.  241 

creasing  interest  and  excitement.  His  face  became 
flushed,  and  a  nervous  tremor  passed  over  his  body. 
At  length  his  frame  fairly  shook  with  the  excite- 
ment under  which  ho  was  laboring,  and  Frank, 
who  was  sitting  by  his  side,  observed  it. 

"  What  is  the  matter  with  you,  Nat  ?  "  whispered 
Frank.  Nat  made  no  reply,  but  continued  to  catch 
every  word  that  was  uttered.  He  was  evidently 
dissatisfied  with  the  defence  of  the  theatre  by  the 
negative  side,  and  thought  that  a  better  plea  for  it 
might  be  made. 

"I  say,  Nat,  what's  the  matter?"  whispered 
Frank  again ;  "  got  the  fever  and  ague  ? " 

Nat  kept  his  eyes  fixed,  and  did  not  even  bestow 
a  nod  of  the  head  upon  Frank's  inquiry,  and  the 
moment  the  question  was  given  to  the  audience  for 
general  debate,  —  according  to  the  custom,  —  Nat 
started  to  his  feet. 

"  Mr.  President,"  said  he,  and  every  head  was 
up,  and  every  eye  fixed,  at  the  sound  of  his  voice. 
All  were  astonished  that  he  should  presume  to 
speak  on  that  floor ;  they  would  scarcely  have 
been  more  surprised  if  a  strange  debater  had 
dropped  down  through  the  plastering  into  the 
audience.     But  Nat  went  on  to  say,  in  substance, 

"  1  have  listened  to  the  discussion  of  the  question 
before  us  with  mingled  feelings  of  interest  and  sur- 
prise. Much  that  has  been  said  I  can  most  cor- 
dially respond  to,  while  some  of  the  arguments 
16 


242  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

upon  the  affirmative  do  not  appear  to  me  legit- 
imate or  just.  Every  subject  should  be  treated 
fairly?  and  especially  one  like  this,  which  is  so  apt 
to  encounter  superstition  and  prejudice.  It  is  no 
objection,  in  my  mind,  to  an  enterprise,  that  it  had 
a  lowly  origin,  any  more  than  it  is  for  an  honest 
and  noble  man  to  have  descended  from  ignoble 
parents.  If  a  man  will  work  his  way  up  from 
poverty  and  obscurity  by  his  indomitable  energy 
and  perseverance,  until  he  carves  his  name  with 
scholars  and  statesmen  on  the  temple  of  fame,  it  is 
the  climax  of  meanness  in  any  one  to  twit  him  of 
his  humble  origin,  and  hold  him  up  to  ridicule  be- 
cause his  parents  are  poor  and  unhonored.  And 
so  when  the  gentleman  tells  us  that  the  theatre 
was  born  in  a  cart,  and  was  originated  by  those 
who  had  neither  learning  nor  character,  it  is  no 
argument  against  it,  in  my  view,  when  I  see  the 
rank  to  which  it  has  attained.  The  cart  has  given 
place  to  the  marble  edifice,  decorated  in  the  highest 
style  of  art,  and  the  place  of  the  untutored  street- 
singer  and  clown  is  filled  by  the  queen  of  song  and 
the  prince  of  orators.  The  play  is  no  longer  devoid 
of  literary  character,  but  is  invested  with  a  classic 
elegance  which  only  the  gifted  intellect  of  Shak- 
speare  could  impart.  What  is  it  that  has  elevated 
dramatic  entertainments  from  the  cart  to  the  costly 
temple  ?  Human  meanness  could  not  do  it,  nor 
human  policy  alone.     It  has  been  accomplished  by 


THE   SURPRISE.  243 

the  intrinsic  value  to  be  found  in  such  dramas  as 
those  composed  by  Shakspeare,  and  that  justly  en- 
titles them  to  something  nobler  than  a  contemptu- 
ous sneer. 

"  I  do  not  presume  to  defend  theatres  as  they  are, 
with  all  the  vices  that  attach  to  the  present  manner 
of  conducting  them.  I  admit  that  the  actors  are 
no  better  than  they  should  be,  and  that  intemper- 
ance and  licentiousness  may  be  countenanced  by 
them.  But  when  it  is  intimated  that  all  this  is 
necessarily  and  inevitably  so,  I  repel  the  insinua- 
tion. Do  not  gentlemen  know  that  the  names  of 
certain  actors  are  associated  with  all  that  is  pure  in 
character  and  noble  in  purpose  ?  Were  Garrick 
and  Siddons  men  of  corrupt  lives,  unworthy  to  hold 
an  honorable  place  in  society  ?  Who  can  point  to 
the  first  line  or  word  ever  penned  to  stigmatize 
these  men  ?  So  long  as  we  can  refer  to  them  as 
pure  and  upright  actors,  it  will  be  true  that  cor- 
ruption does  not  necessarily  belong  to  the  stage. 

"I  would  have  intoxicating  drinks  forever  ex- 
cluded from  the  theatre,  and  every  possible  measure 
adopted  to  prevent  moral  corruption  of  every  kind. 
I  would  take  the  play  out  of  the  hands  of  the  base 
and  profligate,  and  give  it  to  those  who  are  virtuous 
and  true.  I  would  expunge  every  profane  and 
vulgar  word  and  thought  from  both  tragedy  and 
comedy,  leaving  nothing  that  is  unfit  to  be  said  in 
the  ear  of  the  purest  men  and  women,  and  then  I 


244  THE   BOBBIN    BOY. 

see  not  why  the  stage  might  not  become  a  medium 
of  innocent  pleasure,  and  intellectual  culture.  It 
is  bad  now,  because  it  is  in  the  hands  of  bad  men. 
When  the  virtuous  control  it,  we  may  expect  that 
its  character  will  be  changed. 

"  When  it  is  said,  as  it  has  been  on  this  floor  to- 
night, that  nothing  good  can  be  learned  at  a  the- 
atre, even  as  it  is  at  the  present  time,  I  must  beg 
to  dissent  from  the  opinion.  I  can  testify  from  ac- 
tual experience,  that  much  can  be  learned  there  of 
human  nature,  and  much  that  belongs  to  the  art 
of  speaking.  I  do  not  say  that  many  people  go  to 
the  theatre  to  learn  these  things,  but  I  do  say  they 
might  learn  them  if  they  would.  Even  admitting 
that  the  baser  side  of  human  nature  alone  is  seen 
on  the  stage,  a  man  may  learn  something  from  that 
if  he  will.  As  in  the  low  groggery,  a  pure  man  may 
behold  to  what  awful  degradation  the  use  of  strong 
drink  may  reduce  its  victims,  and  derive  therefrom 
an  argument  for  temperance  that  is  irresistible,,  so 
the  exhibitions  of  the  stage  may  show  a  pure-minded 
man  how  revolting  he  may  become  by  yielding  to 
the  power  of  his  lowest  appetites  and  passions.  If 
he  visits  such  a  drinking  place  to  minister  to  a  de- 
praved appetite,  and  carouse  with  others,  he  will 
go  to  ruin  himself;  but  if  he  goes  there  to  acquire 
the  knowledge  to  which  I  have  referred,  he  will 
make  a  valuable  accession  to  his  information  and 
principles.     In  like  manner,  if  a  person  goes  to  the 


THE   SURPRISE.  245 

theatre  simply  to  be  amused,  or  for  a  more  dishon- 
orable purpose,  he  may  be  corrupted  by  what  he 
sees  and  hears  ;  but  if  he  goes  for  the  higher  object 
I  have  named,  he  will  probably  escape  contamina- 
tion." 

In  this  strain  Nat  proceeded  for  twenty  minutes 
or  more,  filling  the  audience  with  surprise  and  won- 
der. He  waxed  warmer  and  warmer,  as  he  ad- 
vanced, and  spoke  in  a  flow  of  eloquence  and  choice 
selection  of  words,  that  was  unusual  for  one  of  his 
age.  No  one  in  the  hall  had  ever  listened  to  such 
a  display  of  oratorical  ability  on  the  part  of  a  youth 
like  him.  The  most  strenuous  opposers  of  the 
theatre  almost  overlooked  the  weakness  of  Nat's 
argument  in  their  admiration  of  his  eloquence.  It 
was  so  unexpected  that  the  surprise  alone  was  al- 
most sufficient  to  bewilder  them.  His  mother  was 
in  the  audience,  and  her  heart  leaped  into  her 
mouth,  as  she  was  first  startled  by  the  sound  of  his 
voice.  She  was  almost  indignant  that  her  boy 
should  attempt  to  speak  in  that  hall,  before  such 
an  audience.  She  expected  every  moment  that  he 
would  break  down,  to  his  own  disgrace  and  others. 
But  he  spoke  on,  never  hesitating  for  choice  words, 
and  put  an  earnestness  and  power  into  every  sentence 
that  amazed  her.  She  oould  scarcely  believe  what 
she  saw  and  heard.  She  was  well  satisfied  with 
her  son  when  he  concluded  his  speech. 

"  Nat  will  make  a  second  Daniel  Webster,"  said 


246  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

the  agent  of  the  factory  to  a  friend,  as  he  was  going 
out  of  the  hall. 

"  I  am  surprised  at  his  eloquence,"  replied  the 
friend  addressed.  "  I  never  heard  the  like  in  my 
life  by  one  of  his  age." 

"  We  must  get  him  to  join  the  lyceum  at  once, 
and  bring  him  out  before  the  public,"  said  the 
agent. 

"  That  would  be  an  excellent  idea,  I  think  ;  and 
there  will  be  a  great  desire  to  hear  him  again.  I 
am  sure  I  would  like  to  hear  him  discuss  another 
question." 

"  Nat  has  always  been  a  close  student,"  continued 
the  agent.  "  When  he  has  not  been  learning  from 
books,  he  has  studied  men  and  things  ;  and  I  have 
expected  he  would  make  his  mark." 

This  speech  set  everybody  in  the  village  to  talk' 
ing.  Nothing  had  occurred  for  a  long  time  that 
caused  so  much  remark  and  excitement.  The 
surprise  and  interest  it  created  remind  us  of  Pat- 
rick Henry's  first  plea,  of  which  Nat  himself  spoke  to 
Charlie,  as  we  saw  in  a  former  chapter.  The 
description  which  Mr.  Wirt  gives  of  it  is  so  appli- 
cable to  the  case  before  us,  that  we  shall  quote  it. 

"  His  attitude,  by  degrees,  became  erect  and 
lofty.  The  spirit  of  his  genius  awakened  all  his 
features.  His  countenance  shone  with  a  nobleness 
and  grandeur  which  it  had  never  before  exhibited, 
There  was  a  lightning  in  his  eye  that  seemed  to 


THE   SURPRISE.  247 

rive  the  spectator.  His  action  became  graceful, 
bold,  and  commanding ;  and  in  the  tones  of  his 
voice,  but  more  especially  in  his  emphasis,  there 
was  a  peculiar  charm,  a  magic,  of  which  any  one 
who  ever  heard  him  will  speak  as  soon  as  he  is 
named.  .  .  . 

"  In  less  than  twenty  minutes  they  might  be  seen 
in  every  part  of  the  house,  on  every  bench,  in 
every  window,  stooping  forward  from  their  stands, 
in  death-like  silence,  their  features  fixed  in  amaze- 
ment ;  all  their  senses  listening  and  riveted  upon 
the  speaker,  as  if  to  catch  the  last  strain  of  some 
heavenly  visitant.  .  .  . 

61  The  jury  seem  to  have  been  so  completely 
bewildered,  that  they  lost  sight,  not  only  of  the  act 
of  seventeen  hundred  and  forty-eight,  but  that 
of  seventeen  hundred  and  fifty-eight  also ;  for 
thoughtless  even  of  the  admitted  right  of  the 
plaintiff,  they  had  scarcely  left  the  bar,  when  they 
returned  with  a  verdict  of  one  penny  damages.  A 
motion  was  made  for  a  new  trial ;  but  the  court, 
too,  had  now  lost  the  equipoise  of  their  judgment, 
and  overruled  the  motion  by  a  unanimous  vote. 
The  verdict  and  judgment  overruling  the  motion, 
were  followed  by  redoubled  acclamations,  from 
within  and  without  the  house. 

"  The  people,  who  had  with  difficulty  kept  their 
hands  off  their  champion,  from  the  moment  of 
closing  his  harangue,  no  sooner  saw  the  fate  of 


248  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

the  cause  finally  sealed,  than  they  seized  him  at 
the  bar,  and  in  spite  of  his  own  exertions,  and  the 
continual  cry  of  order  from  the  sheriff  and  the 
court,  they  bore  him  out  of  the  court  house,  and 
raising  him  on  their  shoulders,  carried  him  about 
the  yard  in  triumph." 

Nat  was  not  carried  out  of  the  hall  like  Patrick, 
but  if  his  companions  and  some  others,  could  have 
acted  their  own  pleasure,  a  similar  scene  would 
have  taken  place.  The  reader  can  scarcely  fail  to 
trace  some  connection  between  his  early  familiarity 
with  the  life  of  Patrick  Henry,  and  this  brilliant 
chapter  of  his  experience  before  the  large  audi- 
ence in  the  town  hall.  It  looks  very  much  as  if 
the  reading  of  that  book  made  a  permanent  im- 
pression upon  his  mind.  It  shows,  also,  that  he 
had  not  studied  the  manners  of  public  speakers  in 
vain. 

"  You  could  n't  do  that  again  if  you  should  try," 
said  Charlie  to  Nat,  at  the  close  of  the  meeting, 
"  You  was  inspired  to-night." 

"  Inspired  with  respect  for  our  dramatic  society," 
answered  Nat,  with  a  laugh.  "  I  thought  I  would 
not  let  it  die  without  one  struggle." 

"  Well,"  said  Frank,  "  we  can  afford  to  let  it 
give  up  the  ghost  now,  after  such  a  glorious  funeral 
oration  over  it.  But  I  thought  you  was  having  the 
shaking  palsy  before  you  got  up  to  speak." 

"  It  was  only  the  debaters  shaking  a  little  interest 


THE   SURPRISE.  249 

into  me,"  replied  Nat.  "  They  made  the  spirit 
move,  that's  all." 

The  reader  must  not  infer  that  opposcrs  of  the 
theatre  changed  their  views  in  consequence  of  Nat's 
argument.  For  no  argument  can  be  framed  that 
will  defend  the  stage  from  the  charge  of  being  a 
great  public  evil.  In  another  place  we  have  said 
enough  to  show  that  the  ground  of  his  defence  was 
fallacious,  though  he  uttered  sentiments  which  he 
then  sincerely  believed.  It  is  certainly  no  strong 
defence  of  the  drama  that  it  has  risen  from  the 
cart  to  the  marble  palace,  for  sin,  in  some  of  its 
grossest  forms,  thus  ascends  from  a  revolting  to  a 
gilded  degradation.  Nor  does  it  avail  much  to 
point  to  here  and  there  a  virtuous  Garrick  among 
stage-players,  when  we  know  that  there  are  a  hun- 
dred worthless,  corrupt  actors  to  one  Garrick.  And 
in  respect  to  the  possibility  of  making  the  theatre 
respectable,  we  have  seen  that  it  has  been  repeat- 
edly tried,  and  failed. 

But  the  audience  fell  in  love  with  Nat's  elo- 
quence. They  were  charmed  by  its  gracefulness 
and  power.  It  was  that  which  won  their  hearts. 
The  result  was,  that  nearly  every  one  became 
satisfied  with  his  good  intention  in  going  to  the 
theatre,  and  originating  dramatic  entertainments 
in  the  village.  It  was  apparent  that  it  was  done 
for  his  own  personal  improvement.  He  was  invited 
to  connect  himself  with  the  citizens'  lyceum,  where 


250  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

he  surprised  and  pleased  his  friends  many  times 
thereafter,  by  the  ability  and  eloquence  with  which 
he  discussed  different  subjects. 

The  Dramatic  Society  was  relinquished,  and  the 
general  interest  manifested  in  it  was  transferred  to 
the  town  lyceum.  A  wider  and  more  important 
field  of  effort  was  now  open  to  test  Nat's  endow- 
ments and  acquisitions ;  and  he  rapidly  advanced 
by  making  the  most  of  every  opportunity. 


CHAPTER    XXIYo 

ANOTHER    STEP. 

"  TTTHAT  ARE  you  doing  here,  Nat?"  inquired 
»  »  Charlie,  one  day,  as  he  entered  the  car- 
penter's shop  where  he  was  at  work  with  his  father. 

"  I  am  going  to  run  a  partition  through  here  to 
make  a  new  study  for  me.  Father  has  given  me 
liberty  to  use  this  part  of  the  shop." 

"  It  will  make  a  cozy  room,"  said  Charlie, 
"  though  it  is  a  little  lower  down  in  the  world  than 
your  other  study.  It  seems  you  are  really  going 
to  be  a  student  and  nothing  else.  You  must  look 
out  that  Mother  Lane's  prophecies  are  not  fulfilled," 
the  last  sentence  being  intended  for  a  sly  appeal  to 
Nat's  good  nature. 

"  I  expect  to  do  a  good  deal  of  work  yet,"  replied 
Nat ;  "  at  least,  I  shall  be  obliged  to  work  until  I 
find  the  way  to  wealth  as  plain  as  the  way  to 
market.  I  shall  study  part  of  the  time,  and  work 
the  remainder." 

(251> 


252  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

At  this  time  Nat  had  resolved  to  devote  a  larger 
portion  of  his  time  to  study,  and  labor  only  enough 
to  pay  his  own  way  along,  and  provide  himself  with 
books- — a  plan  in  which  his  parents  cheerfully 
acquiesced.  He  went  on  and  finished  off  his  study 
in  his  father's  shop,  and  furnished  it  as  well  as  his 
limited  means  would  allow.  A  table,  two  or  three 
chairs,  his  scanty  library,  and  a  coucn  on  which  he 
slept  nights,  constituted  the  furniture  of  this  new 
apartment.  It  was  more  convenient  for  him  to 
lodge  in  his  study,  since  he  could  sit  up  as  late  as 
he  pleased,  and  rise  as  early,  without  disturbing 
any  one. 

Now  he  ceased  to  labor  constantly  in  the  machine 
shop,  and  worked  at  his  trade  only  a  few  months  at 
a  time,  enough  to  support  himself  while  pursuing 
his  studies.  Occasionally  he  labored  with  his 
father,  and  played  the  part  of  a  carpenter. 

Charlie  was  anxious  to  see  the  new  study  when 
it  was  completed,  and  he  availed  himself  of  the 
earliest  opportunity  to  look  in  upon  Nat. 

"  Here  you  are,  in  a  brown  study.  This  is 
capital  —  I  had  no  idea  you  would  have  so  good  a 
room  as  this,  Nat.     Did  you  do  all  this  yourself  ?  " 

"  Certainly ;  have  you  any  criticisms  to  offer  ? 
You  look  as  if  you  hardly  credited  my  word." 

"  I  guess  your  father  was  round  about  home," 
said  Charlie,  pleasantly. 

"  But  he  did  not  drive  a  nail,  nor  plane  a  board." 


ANOTHER   STEP.  253 

"  A  carpenter,  then,  with  all  the  rest,"  added 
Charlie.  t;  I  suppose  now  the  library  will  be  read 
up  pretty  fast." 

"  Not  so  fast  as  you  imagine.  I  could  never 
begin  with  you  in  reading  books.  You  have  read 
two  to  my  one,  I  should  think." 

"  Not  so  bad  as  that ;  and  it  is  a  poor  compliment 
if  it  were  true,  for  too  much  reading  is  as  bad  as 
too  little,  I  expect.  The  difference  between  you 
and  me  is  very  plain ;  you  read  and  study  to  have 
something  to  use ;  and  I  read  for  the  pleasure 
of  it." 

"  It  is  true,"  answered  Nat,  "  that  I  try  to  make 
use  of  what  I  learn,  though  I  enjoy  the  mere 
pleasure  of  study  as  well  as  you  do.  But  when  a 
person  learns  something,  and  then  makes  use  of  it, 
he  will  never  forget  it.  I  might  study  surveying  a 
whole  year  in  school,  but  if  I  did  not  go  out  into 
the  fields  to  apply  what  I  learned  to  actual  practice, 
it  would  do  me  little  good ;  and  it  is  so  with  every 
thing." 

"  There  is  a  good  deal  of  truth  in  that,"  replied 
Charlie  ;  "  but  there  is  a  difference  in  the  ability  of 
persons  to  use  what  they  acquire.  Some  persons 
have  a  very  poor  way  of  showing  what  they  know." 

It  was  true  that  Nat  did  not  gorge  his  mind  by 
excessive  reading.  Some  readers  can  scarcely  wait 
to  finish  one  book,  because  they  hanker  so  fof 
another.     They  read  for  the  mere  pleasure  of  read' 


254  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

ing,  without  the  least  idea  of  laying  up  a  store  of 
information  for  future  use.  Their  minds  are 
crammed  all  the  time  with  a  quantity  of  undigested 
knowledge.  They  read  as  some  people  bolt  down 
a  meal  of  victuals,  and  the  consequences  are  similar. 
The  mind  is  not  nourished  and  strengthened 
thereby,  but  is  rather  impaired  finally  by  mental 
indigestio 

Coleridge  divides  readers  into  four  classes. 
"  The  first,"  he  says,  "  may  be  compared  to  an 
hour-glass,  their  reading  being  as  the  sand  ;  it  runs 
in,  and  it  runs  out,  and  leaves  not  a  vestige  behind. 
A  second  class  resembles  a  sponge,  which  imbibes 
every  thing,  and  returns  it  nearly  in  the  same  state, 
only  a  little  dirtier.  A  third  class  is  like  a  jelly- 
bag,  which  allows  all  that  is  pure  to  pass  away,  and 
retains  only  the  refuse  and  the  dregs.  The  fourth 
class  may  be  compared  to  the  slave  in  the  diamond 
mines  of  Golconda,  who,  casting  aside  all  that  is 
worthless,  preserves  only  the  pure  gem."'  Nat  was 
a  reader  of  the  latter  class,  and,  at  the  same  time, 
saved  every  gem  for  use.  He  had  no  disposition  to 
hoard  knowledge,  as  the  miser  does  his  gold.  He 
thought  it  was  designed  for  use  as  really  as  a  coat 
or  hat  —  an  idea  that  does  not  seem  to  have  entered 
the  heads  of  many  youth,  of  whom  it  may  be  said, 
"  their  apparel  is  the  best  part  of  them." 

It  is  as  necessary  to  have  a  fixed,  noble  purpose 
behind  a  disposition  to  read,  as  behind  physical 


ANOTHER   STEP.  255 

strength  in  secular  pursuits,  otherwise  what  is  read 
will  be  of  comparatively  little  service.  The  purpose 
with  which  a  tiling  is  done  determines  the  degree 
of  success  therein,  and  the  principle  applies  equally 
to  reading.  Nat's  purpose  converted  every  particle 
of  knowledge  acquired  into  a  means  of  influence 
and  usefulness,  so  that  he  made  a  given  amount  of 
knowledge  go  further  towards  making  a  mark  on 
society  than  Charlie.  The  latter  usually  mastered 
what  he  read,  and  he  made  good  use  of  it,  as  the  end 
will  show,  only  it  was  done  in  another  channel,  and 
in  a  more  private  way.  He  could  not  have  made 
so  deep  and  lasting  an  impression  on  those  around 
him  as  Nat,  with  even  more  knowledge,  if  he  had 
tried. 

"  What  work  are  you  reading  now,  Nat  ?  " 
"  Burke's  Essay  on  the  Sublime  and  Beautiful," 
replied  Nat,  taking  up  the  volume  from  the  table. 
"  It  is  a  splendid  work." 

"  I  never  read  it,"  added  Charlie  ;  "  the  title  is 
so  magnificent  that  I  never  thought  I  should  like 
it.     My  head  is  not  long  enough  for  such  a  work." 
"  You  don't  know  what  it  is.     It  is  one  of  the 
most  practical  and  useful  volumes  there  is.     It  is 
not  so  taking  a  book  for  rapid  reading  as  many 
others ;  but  it  is  a  work  to  be  studied." 
"  What  is  the  particular  use  of  it  ?  " 
"  Its  use  to  me  is,  the  information  it  gives  con- 
cerning those  objects  and  illustrations  that  have  the 


25b'  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

most  power  over  the  hearts  of  men  in  speaking  and 
writing.  I  should  think  it  must  aid  a  person  very 
much  in  the  ability  to  illustrate  and  enforce  a  sub- 
ject." 

"  I  suppose  you  are  right,"  said  Charlie,  "  but  it 
is  all  gammon  to  me.  That  is  what  helped  you  to 
illustrate  and  enforce  the  claims  of  our  Dramatic 
Society  in  the  lyceum,  was  it?  "  meaning  no  more 
than  a  joke  by  this  suggestion. 

"  No  ;  I  never  read  it  much  until  recently,"  an 
swered  Nat. 

"  Well,  I  thought  you  had  some  of  the  sublime 
in  that  speech,  if  you  had  none  of  the  beautiful" 
continued  Charlie  in  a  vein  of  humor.  "  I  con- 
cluded that  Burke  might  have  helped  you  some,  as 
I  thought  it  hardly  probable  that  Nat  did  it  alone." 

"  What  do  you  think  you  should  do,  Charlie,  if 
you  had  not  me  to  make  fun  of?"  asked  Nat. 
"  You  would  have  the  dyspepsia  right  away.  It  is 
altogether  probable  that  I  was  made  to  promote 
your  digestion." 

"  Yery  likely,"  replied  Charlie,  assuming  a  grave 
appearance.  "I  believe  they  administer  rather 
powerful  medicine  for  that  disease.  But  they  say 
you  go  to  college  now,"  and  here  his  seeming 
gravity  was  displaced  by  a  smile.  "  When  are  you 
going  to  graduate  ?  " 

"  About  the  time  you  know  enough  to  enter," 
answered  Nat,  paying  back  in  the  same  coin. 


ANOTHER   STEP.  257 

Charlie  was  much  amused  at  this  turn,  for  his 
allusion  to  college  was  in  a  jesting  way,  occasioned 
by  the  faGt  that  Nat  had  obtained  permission  to  use 
the  library  of  Cambridge  College,  to  which  place 
he  frequently  walked  to  consult  volumes.  It  was  a 
great  advantage  to  him,  to  enjoy  the  opportunity  to 
examine  works  which  he  could  not  possess  on  ac- 
count of  his  poverty,  and  such  works,  too,  as  the 
library  of  his  native  village  did  not  contain.  It 
was  quite  a  walk  to  Harvard  College,  but  necessity 
made  it  comparatively  short  and  pleasant  to  Nat. 
Many  times  he  performed  the  trip  to  settle  some 
point  of  inquiry,  or  compass  some  difficult  subject ; 
and  the  journeys  proved  to  him  what  similar  walks 
did  to  Count  Rumford  many  years  before.  He, 
also,  was  accustomed  to  visit  the  Athenaeum  in  Bos- 
ton, at  this  period  of  his  life,  where  he  spent  some 
pleasant  and  profitable  hours.  To  many  youth  it 
would  seem  too  great  an  outlay  of  labor  to  make  for 
an  education ;  but  to  Nat  it  was  a  cheap  way  of 
obtaining  knowledge.  He  was  willing  to  make  any 
sacrifice,  and  to  perform  almost  any  labor,  if  he 
could  add  thereby  to  his  mental  stature.  Often  a 
volume  would  completely  absorb  his  thoughts  upon 
a  given  subject,  and  he  could  not  let  it  alone  until 
he  had  thoroughly  canvassed  it ;  and  this  was  one 
of  the  elements  of  his  success  —  a  power  of  appli- 
cation, in  which  all  the  thoughts  were  concentrated 
on  the  subject  before  him.  It  was  thus  with  Hiu>h 
IT 


258  THE  BOBBIN   BOY. 

Miller  from  his  boyhood.  As  an  instance,  his  bi- 
ographer relates,  that,  on  one  occasion  he  read  a 
work  on  military  tactics  —  a  subject  that  one  would 
think  could  scarcely  command  his  attention  —  and 
he  was  so  thoroughly  controlled  by  the  desire  to 
understand  the  military  movements  described,  that 
he  repaired  to  the  sea-shore,  where  he  got  up  an 
imposing  battle  between  the  English  and  French, 
with  a  peck  or  half  bushel  of  shells,  one  color  repre- 
senting one  nation,  and  another  color  the  other 
nation.  Time  after  time  lie  fought  an  imaginary 
battle  with  shells,  until  he  definitely  understood  the 
military  tactics  described  in  the  volume  which  he 
read. 

Sometimes  the  perusal  of  a  volume  starts  off  the 
reader  upon  a  career  that  is  really  different  from 
that  which  the  book  describes.  By  its  hints  or  sug- 
gestions, it  awakens  the  powers  to  some  incidental 
subject,  upon  which  they  seize  with  an  earnestness 
and  devotion  that  cannot  fail  of  success.  Thus, 
when  William  Carey  read  the  "  Voyages  of  Captain 
Cook,"  he  first  conceived  the  idea  of  going  upon  a 
mission  to  the  heathen  world.  There  was  informa- 
tion imparted  in  that  volume,  which,  in  connection 
with  the  marvellous  adventures  and  success  of  the 
great  voyager,  fired  his  soul  with  th<3  determination 
to  carry  the  gospel  to  the  perishing. 

Nat  had  such  a  mind,  ami  difneultu>  rising 
mountain  high  could  tjof*  hia«i'*r  him  fron*  examin- 


A MOT HER    STEP.  2C9 

ing  a  subject  that  absorbed  his  thoughts.  A  walk 
of  ten  miles  to  see  a  book,  the  sacrifice  of  an  even- 
ing's entertainment  at  a  party  of  pleasure,  or  the 
loss  of  a  night's  sleep,  never  stood  between  him 
and  the  information  he  earnestly  desired.  His  un- 
wavering purpose  surmounted  all  such  obstacles  in 
the  attainment  of  his  object. 


CHAPTER    XXV. 

EULOGY   BY   JOHN    QUINCY   ADAMS. 

ONE  OF  the  brief  periods  in  which  Nat  worked 
at  his  trade,  after  he  commenced  to  study  more 
systematically,  was  spent  on  the  Mill  Dam  in  Bos- 
ton. At  a  machine-shop  there,  he  pursued  his  busi- 
ness a  short  time,  for  the  purpose  of  earning  the 
means  to  defray  his  expenses  while  studying. 

"  John  Quincy  Adams  is  to  deliver  a  eulogy  on 
Madison  at  the  old  Federal  Street  Theatre  to-mor- 
row," said  one  of  the  hands. 

"  At  what  time  ?  "  inquired  Nat. 

"  Ten  o'clock  is  the  time  announced  for  the  pro- 
cession to  form.  It  will  probably  be  twelve  o'clock 
before  they  get  ready  for  the  eulogy." 

"  I  would  go,"  said  Nat,  "  if  I  had  my  best  clothes 
here.  I  could  go  without  losing  much  time  at  that 
hour." 

"  Did  you  ever  hear  John  Quincy  Adams?  " 

"  No ;  and  that  is  one  reason  why  I  wish  to  hear 

(260) 


EULOGY   BY   JOHN   QUINCY   ADAMS.  261 

him.  I  have  heard  many  of  the  distinguished  men, 
but  I  have  never  had  the  opportunity  to  hear  him. 
I  think  I  shall  go  as  I  am." 

"  And  have  a  representation  of  the  machine-shop 
there,"  said  his  companion.  "  The  nabobs  will 
think  you  are  crazy  to  come  there  without  your 
broadcloth." 

"  Perhaps  they  would  think  my  broadcloth  was 
too  coarse  if  I  should  wear  it.  But  if  they  go  to 
see  my  suit  instead  of  hearing  the  eulogy,  they  are 
welcome  to  the  sight." 

"  You  will  have  to  lose  more  time  than  you  ex- 
pect to  ;  for  there  will  be  such  a  crowd  that  you 
cannot  get  in  unless  you  go  early ;  and  you  will 
have  to  go  without  your  dinner  too." 

"  Dinner  is  nothing,"  replied  Nat.  "  It  will  not 
be  the  first  time  I  have  gone  without  my  dinner, 
and  supper  too.  I  can  leave  here  at  half  past 
eleven  o'clock  and  be  in  season  for  the  eulogy,  and 
find  a  place  to  hear  into  the  bargain.  A  very  small 
place  will  hold  me  at  such  a  time." 

"  But  I  prefer  a  chance  to  breathe  when  I  can 
have  it  as  well  as  not.  It  is  no  pleasure  to  me  to 
go  into  such  a  crowd  to  hear  the  best  speaker  in 
the  world.     But  every  one  to  his  taste." 

"  Yes,"  responded  Nat ;  "  and  my  taste  is  right 
the  reverse.  I  would  suffer  a  pretty  good  squeez- 
ing, and  go  dinnerless  besides,  to  hear  John  Quincy 
Adams  speak.     I  shall  try  it  anyhow." 


262  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

Nat  was  usually  quite  particular  in  regard  to  Ills 
personal  appearance  on  public  occasions.  If  his 
best  suit  had  been  at  hand,  he  could  not  have  been 
persuaded  to  go  to  hear  the  eulogy  in  his  working 
apparel.  But  he  was  at  work  here  only  a  short 
time,  and  was  at  home  on  the  sabbath,  so  that  he 
provided  himself  with  only  his  laboring  suit.  And 
now  we  see  how  strong  was  his  desire  to  hear  the 
distinguished  statesman  ;  for  it  overcame  his  regard 
for  his  personal  appearance  so  far  that  he  was  will- 
ing to  appear  in  that  assembly  wearing  his  ma- 
chine-shop apparel,  rather  than  forego  the  pleasure 
of  an  intellectual  pastime. 

At  the  appointed  time,  on  the  day  of  the  eulogy, 
Nat  dropped  his  tools,  and  proceeded  to  wash  him- 
self, and  make  ready  to  go. 

"  Then  you  are  determined  to  go  ? "  said  his 
companion. 

"  Yes;  I  never  shall  have  a  better  chance  to  hear 
the  sage  of  Quincy.  I  would  like  to  show  him  a 
little  more  respect  by  donning  my  best  suit  if  I 
could,  but  as  it  is,  he  must  take  the  will  for  the 
deed." 

"  You  '11  cut  a  dash  there  among  the  gentry,  I 
reckon,  and  perhaps  receive  more  attention  than 
the  orator  himself.  They  '11  think  you  are  some 
fellow  who  has  got  into  the  wrong  pew." 

"  You  had  better  conclude  to  go  with  me,"  said 
Nat,  "  and  enjoy  the  sight.     You  will  never  know 


EULOGY   BY   JOHN  QUINCY   ADAMS.  263 

how  much  of  a  sensation  I  do  create  unless  you 
are  there  to  see." 

"  I  rather  be  excused,"  replied  his  companion. 
"  I  can  imagine  enough  here  ;  besides  I  like  a  good 
dinner  too  well  to  go." 

Nat  hastened  to  Federal  Street,  and  found  the 
people  crowding  in  very  rapidly,  and  the  exercises 
about  commencing.  He  joined  the  throng,  and 
was  soon  borne  along  with  the  current  into  the  spa- 
cious building.  If  he  had  actually  wanted  to  have 
skulked  into  some  corner,  it  would  have  been  im- 
possible ;  for  the  assembly  was  so  dense  that  he  had 
no  alternative  but  to  remain  stationary,  or  to  be 
carried  along  by  the  mass.  It  so  happened  that  he 
joined  the  multitude  just  in  season  to  be  borne 
well  along  into  the  area  of  the  building,  in  front  of 
the  rostrum  ;  and  there  he  was  in  his  working  ap- 
parel, in  full  view  of  hundreds  of  eyes.  Yet  he 
scarcely  thought  of  his  clothing  in  his  eagerness  to 
hear  the  eulogy.  It  was  upon  the  character  of  one 
with  whose  political  life  he  was  quite  familiar,  and 
this  circumstance  increased  his  interest.  His  old 
suit  did  not  at  all  impair  his  sense  of  hearing,  nor 
obscure  the  language  of  the  orator.  He  never 
heard  better  in  his  life,  and,  in  but  few  instances, 
never  felt  himself  better  paid  for  his  effort  to  hear 
an  oration. 

It  was  known  in  the  shop,  before  work  began  in 
the  afternoon,  that  Nat  had  gone  just  as  he  was 


264  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

to  hear  the  eulogy,  and   it   created   some   merri> 
ment. 

"  He  is  a  real  book-worm,"  said  one ;  "  he  aL 
ways  carries  a  book  in  his  pocket  to  read  when  he 
is  not  at  work." 

"  Well,  I  can  hardly  make  out  what  he  is,  for 
he  never  says  much,"  said  another.  "  He  seems  to 
be  thinking  about  something  all  the  time,  and  yet 
he  attends  to  his  work.  He  is  a  queer  genius,  I 
guess." 

"  He  is  no  ignoramus,  you  may  depend  on  that," 
said  a  third.  "  A  chap  with  such  an  eye  as  his 
knows  his  P's  and  Q's.  He  says  little,  and  thinks 
the  more." 

"  And  then,"  added  the  first  speaker,  "  a  fellow 
who  will  go  without  his  dinner  to  hear  a  speech 
must  have  a  pretty  good  appetite  for  knowledge, 
unless  he  is  obliged  to  diet." 

"  He  '11  have  a  good  appetite  for  supper,  I  'm 
thinking,"  said  another,  rather  dryly. 

Nat  heard  the  eulogy,  and  was  back  again  to  his 
work  within  three  hours.  There  were  some  smil- 
ing faces  as  he  entered  the  shop,  and  he  could  very 
readily  read  the  thoughts  behind  them. 

c;  Was  you  in  time  ?  "  inquired  the  fellow-work- 
man with  whom  he  had  the  conversation  about 
going. 

"  I  could  not  have  hit  better,"  Nat  replied,  "  if 
I  had  known  the  precise  minute  the  eulogy  would 


EULOGY   BY   JOHN    QUINCY   ADAMS.  265 

commence.     It  was  good,  too ;  and  a  greater  crowd 
I  never  saw." 

"  There  would  not  have  been  room  for  me  if  I 
had  gone,  then  ?  " 

"No;  /just  made  out  the  complement.  I  took 
the  last  place  there  was,  and  it  was  a  close  fit  for 
me." 

u  How  did  you  like  Mr.  Adams  ?  " 

"  Better  than  I  expected.  I  had  not  formed  a 
very  exalted  idea  of  his  eloquence,  perhaps  because 
I  have  heard  Webster  and  Everett,  but  he  was 
really  eloquent,  and  spoke  evidently  without  any 
political  or  partisan  prejudices.  He  appears  older 
than  I  expected." 

"  He  is  getting  to  be  an  old  man,  and  he  has 
been  through  enough  to  make  him  gray  long  ago." 

"  I  am  glad  to  have  heard  him,"  added  Nat. 
"  Perhaps  I  might  never  have  had  another  oppor- 
tunity." 

This  incident  is  another  illustration  of  the  sacri- 
fices Nat  would  make  to  hear  public  speakers,  and 
to  acquire  knowledge,  whenever  he  could.  A 
commendable  enthusiasm  is  apparent  here  as  else- 
where, in  seeking  the  object  desired.  All  those 
loading  traits  of  his  character,  that  we  have  seen 
were  so  serviceable  to  him  in  other  places,  appear 
in  this  brief  experience,  while  an  unquenchable 
thirst  for  knowledge  lay  behind  them  to  goad  them 
on  to  victory. 


CHAPTER    XXYI. 

THE    TEMPERANCE    SOCIETY. 

IN  NAT'S  boyhood  the  principle  of  total  absti- 
nence was  not  advocated  by  the  friends  of 
temperance.  He  was  considered  temperate  who 
drank  intoxicating  liquor  sparingly,  and  there  were 
few  persons  who  did  not  use  it  at  all.  But  a  few 
years  later,  at  the  period  of  his  life  to  which  we  have 
now  arrived,  the  total  abstinence  theory  began  to 
command  the  public  attention.  The  movement 
commenced  with  the  New  York  State  Temperance 
Society,  and  spread  rapidly  over  the  country.  It 
reached  Nat's  native  village,  and  considerable  in- 
terest was  awakened. 

"  I  have  been  thinking,"  said  Nat  to  his  compan- 
ions, when  they  were  together  one  evening,  "  that 
we  better  form  a  young  people's  total  abstinence 
society.  That  is  evidently  the  only  right  principle 
of  conducting  the  temperance  reform." 

(  266) 


THE   TEMPERANCE    SOCIETY.  267 

"  /  am  ready  for  it,"  replied  Charlie.  "  Some- 
thing ought  to  be  done  to  stop  the  evils  of  intem- 
perance. I  understand  the  adults  are  going  to 
organize  a  society,  and  there  will  be  more  interest 
awakened  if  we  young  people  have  one  among 
ourselves." 

"  I  suppose  we  can  belong  to  the  town  society 
if  we  choose,"  said  Frank,  "  though  I  think  there 
would  be  more  interest,  as  you  say,  if  we  have  one 
among  ourselves.     I  am  ready  to  do  either." 

"  What  do  you  say,  Marcus  ?  "  inquired  Nat. 

"  I  say  '  amen '  to  it,  with  real  Methodist  unc- 
tion," answered  Marcus,  with  his  usual  good  humor. 
"  Any  way  that  will  smash  the  decanters  and  get 
rid  of  the  rum." 

"  You  like  it  as  well  as  anybody,"  said  James 
Cole,  somewhat  pettishly,  as  he  was  touched  by 
this  last  remark  of  Marcus.  "  I  would  n't  trust 
you  out  of  sight  with  a  decanter,  whether  you  join 
the  society  or  not." 

"  What !  are  you  opposed  to  it,  James  V  "  asked 
Nat. 

"  Yes,  I  am ;  it  is  all  nonsense  to  talk  about 
never  tasting  of  liquor  again.  The  whole  of  you 
would  drink  wine  at  the  first  party  where  it  is 
passed  around.  Not  one  of  you  would  dare  re- 
fuse." 

"  You  will  have  a  chance  to  see,"  said  Frank. 
"  The  time  is  not  far  off  wlien  no  one  will  provido 


268  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

wine  for  a  party,  if  the  total  abstinence  cause  ad- 
vances, as  I  believe  it  will." 

"  Well,  I  shall  not  sign  away  my  liberty,"  con- 
tinued James,  "  by  putting  my  name  to  a  pledge. 
I  shall  drink  when  I  please,  and  stop  when  I 
please." 

"  I  have  no  more  intention  of  signing  away  my 
liberty,"  said  Nat,  "  than  you  have.  But  I  am  not 
anxious  for  the  liberty  of  getting  drunk  and  lying 
in  the  gutter.  I  prefer  to  be  free,  and  know  what 
I  am  about ;  for  then  I  can  walk  the  streets  with- 
out reeling  when  I  please." 

"  A  man  no  need  to  make  a  beast  of  himself  if 
he  does  not  join  a  total  abstinence  society,"  said 
James.  "  I  don't  believe  in  drunkenness  any  more 
than  you  do,  and  there  is  no  need  of  drinking  to 
excess." 

"  That  is  what  every  toper  said  once,"  answered 
Nat.  "  Not  one  of  them  expected  to  become  a 
drunkard,  and  probably  they  all  thought  there  was 
no  need  of  it.  When  a  person  begins  to  drink,  it 
is  not  certain  that  he  will  have  the  ability  to 
stop." 

"  Fudge,"  exclaimed  James.  "  You  would  make 
out  that  a  man  has  no  self-respect,  and  no  will  to 
govern  his  appetite." 

"  That  is  exactly  what  I  mean  to  make  out," 
added  Nat.  u  The  habit  of  using  intoxicating 
drinks   nurtures   an   irresistible   appetite,   so   that 


THE   TEMPERANCE   SOCIETY.  269 

there  is  not  one  bard  drinker  in  ten  who  could  now 
stop  drinking  if  he  should  try." 

"  Are  you  green  enough  to  believe  that  ?  "  asked 
James,  in  a  tone  of  derision. 

"  He  is  just  ripe  enough  to  believe  it,"  inter- 
rupted Marcus.  "  A  green-horn  has  a  good  deal  to 
learn  before  he  can  believe  the  truth ; "  and  this 
sly  hit  James  felt. 

"  I  suppose  that  you  all  expect  that  I  shall  be 
picked  out  of  the  gutter  one  day,  because  I  can't 
control  my  appetite,"  said  James.  "  I  should  think 
so  by  your  talk." 

"  For  one,  I  should  not  be  at  all  surprised," 
replied  Nat,  "  unless  you  change  your  views.  You 
certainly  maintain  the  gutter  theory." 

"  Gutter  or  no  gutter,"  added  James,  "  I  shall 
not  sacrifice  my  liberty  by  joining  a  total  absti- 
nence society.  I  will  have  people  know  that  there 
is  one  child  who  can  drink  when  he  pleases,  or  let 
it  alone." 

It  was  usual  at  that  time,  for  youth  to  drink,  as 
well  as  adults,  on  certain  occasions.  If  a  company 
of  them  were  out  upon  an  excursion,  or  attending 
a  party,  they  did  not  hesitate  to  take  a  glass  of 
wine,  and  even  something  stronger.  It  was  accord- 
ing to  the  custom  of  the  times.  It  was  fashionable 
to  treat  callers  to  something  of  the  kind,  and  to 
furnish  it  as  a  necessary  part  of  the  entertainment 
at  social  gatherings.     Nat  and  his  companions  were 


270  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

accustomed  to  accept  the  glass  on  such  occasions. 
But  they  were  discriminating  enough  to  perceive 
that  there  was  danger.  They  did  not  dare  to  trust 
themselves  to  sustain  the  drinking  usages  of  the 
the  day.  They  had  heard  public  lectures  upon  the 
subject,  in  which  the  perils  of  the  times,  both  to 
the  young  and  old,  in  this  respect,  were  delineated, 
and  they  were  wise  enough  to  acknowledge  the 
truth  of  what  they  heard.  Nat  espoused  the  cause 
from  the  beginning,  with  his  usual  enthusiasm  and 
invincible  purpose. 

It  was  decided  to  organize  a  Total  Abstinence 
Society,  and  arrangements  were  made  to  effect  the 
object  on  the  following  week.  Notice  was  given 
accordingly,  and  many  of  the  young  people  were 
spoken  with  upon  the  subject.  The  friends  of  tem- 
perance generally  encouraged  the  movement,  as  a 
very  hopeful  one  for  the  young.  Nat,  assisted  by 
his  companions,  drafted  a  constitution  before  the 
evening  of  organization  arrived,  in  order  to  facili- 
tate the  business.  The  proposition  met  with  many 
hearty  responses. 

On  the  evening  appointed  to  form  the  society,  as 
many  were  present  as  could  be  expected,  and  most 
of  them  came  resolved  to  join  the  society.  A  few 
were  drawn  thither  by  curiosity,  having  little  sym- 
pathy with  the  movement.  The  meeting  was  called 
to  order  by  one  of  the  number,  and  a  temporary 
chairman  elected. 


THE   TEMPERANCE   SOCIETY.  271 

"  Mr.  Chairman,"  said  Nat,  rising  from  his  seat, 
"  we  have  met  here  to-night  to  organize  a  Total 
Abstinence  Society,  and  most  of  us  have  come  with 
the  intention  of  joining.  In  order,  therefore,  to 
effect  a  speedy  organization,  I  will  present  to  the 
meeting  the  following  constitution,  which  some  of 
us  have  prepared,  for  their  adoption  or  rejection. 
If  the  constitution  is  adopted,  it  will  then  be  proper 
to  circulate  it  for  signatures,  and  afterwards  proceed 
to  the  choice  of  officers." 

Nat  read  the  constitution  and  by-laws,  and  they 
were  unanimously  adopted,  and  then  circulated  for 
signatures.  The  pledge  was  incorporated  into  the 
constitution,  so  that  signing  that  was  also  signing 
the  pledge. 

"  I  move  you  now,"  said  Charlie,  "  that  we  pro- 
ceed to  the  choice  of  officers."  The  motion  was 
carried. 

"  How  shall  the  officers  be  chosen  ?  "  inquired 
the  chairman. 

"  I  move  they  be  chosen  by  ballot,"  said  Frank. 
This  motion  was  also  carried. 

"  Please  prepare  and  bring  in  your  votes  for 
president,"  announced  the  chairman. 

Two  or  three  boys'  caps  made  convenient  ballot- 
boxes,  so  that  this  order  was  soon  obeyed. 

"  Votes  all  in  ?  "  inquired  the  chairman0  "  If 
so,  I  declare  the  ballot  closed." 


272  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

After  counting  the  ballots,  the  president  announ- 
ced the  result. 

"  You  have  made  choice  of  Frank  Martin  for 
your  president,"  said  he. 

Frank  took  the  chair,  and  the  temporary  chair- 
man retired. 

"  Please  prepare  and  bring  in  your  votes  for 
secretary,"  said  Frank. 

The  order  was  speedily  executed,  and  the  presi- 
dent declared  the  ballot. 

"  You  have  made  choice  of  Charles  Stone  for 
your  secretary,"  and  Charles  took  his  place  at  the 
table. 

The  remaining  officers  were  duly  elected,  and 
other  business  performed,  and  thus  the  first  Total 
Abstinence  Society,  in  Nat's  native  place,  was 
started  by  himself  and  associates.  When  we  con- 
sider how  long  ago  it  was,  and  the  perils  that 
surrounded  the  young  at  that  time,  on  account  of 
the  drinking  usages,  we  must  concede  that  it  was 
a  very  important  event  to  all  who  put  their  names 
to  that  constitution  and  pledge.  It  probably  ex- 
erted a  moulding  influence  upon  their  characters 
through  life.  Possibly  it  saved  some  of  them  from 
a  drunkard's  grave. 

The  formation  of  such  a  society  was  calculated 
to  create  considerable  of  a  sensation  in  the  village, 
and   to   provoke   many  remarks  for   and   againsi 


THE   TEMPERANCE    SOCIETY.  273 

The  principle  of  total  abstinence  was  so  novel  to 
many,  that  they  thought  its  advocates  must  be 
almost  insane.  Even  some  temperance  men  and 
women,  who  had  defended  the  cause  on  the  old 
ground,  concluded  that  there  was  more  zeal  than 
knowledge  in  taking  such  a  step.  In  the  grog-shops 
the  subject  was  discussed  with  much  spirit. 

*<  You  '11  have  to  shut  up  shop  'fore  long,"  said 
one  customer  to  Miles,  a  rumseller,  '*  if  the  temper- 
ance folks  can  have  their  own  way." 

"I  guess  they  won't  have  their  way,"  replied 
Miles.  "  Very  few  people  will  sell  their  liberty  out 
so  cheap.  I  don't  apprehend  that  it  will  make 
much  difference  with  niy  business,  whether  they 
have  a  temperance  society  or  not." 

"  You  have  n't  heard  how  swimmingly  the  young 
folks  went  on  the  other  night,  I  reckon." 

"  Yes  I  have ;  and  that  was  one  of  Nat's  move 
ments.  He  9s  dead  set  against  drinking,  they  say, 
but  he  is  welcome  to  all  he  can  make  out  of  this." 

"  He  better  be  minding  his  own  business,  and 
not  meddle  with  other  people's  affairs.  They  say 
he  studies  more  than  he  works  now ;  but  if  he  had 
been  compelled  to  work  on  at  his  trade,  it  would 
turn  out  better  for  him  and  all  concerned." 

"  Nat  is  a  smart  feller,"  said  the  rumseller,  "  but 
he  '11  have  to  be  a  good  deal  smarter  before  he  can 
get  many  people  to  say  they  '11  never  drink." 

"  That 's     certain,"     responded    the    customer. 
18 


274  THE  BOBBIN  BOY. 

"There  is  no  use  in  trying  to  do  what  can't  b* 
done.  But  boys  are  getting  to  know  more  than 
their  fathers  in  these  ere  times.  I  'spose  there  are 
some  folks  who  would  like  to  tell  us  what  we  shall 
eat  and  wear,  and  what  we  shan't." 

"  I  wonder  if  Jim  Cole  joined  the  society  ?  "  in- 
quired the  rumseller 

"  Jim !  no !  you  would  n't  ketch  him  to  make 
such  a  dunce  of  himself.  He  believes  in  using 
a  little  when  he  wants  it,  and  that's  my  doc- 
trine." 

"  Jim  is  steady  as  a  deacon  natrally,"  continued 
the  vender,  "  and  1  did  n't  know  but  he  might  be 
influenced  by  Nat  to  join." 

"  He  did  n't ;  for  he  told  me  that  he  should  n't 
sign  away  his  liberty  for  anybody,  and  he  said  that 
he  told  Nat,  and  the  other  fellers,  that  they  would 
drink  wine  at  the  first  party  they  went  to." 

"  He  was  wrong  there,  I  'm  thinking,"  answered 
the  rumseller ;  "  for  Nat  is  independent,  and  he 
don't  back  out  of  any  thing  he  undertakes.  He  '11 
be  the  last  one  to  give  it  up." 

"  Does  n't  Jim  patronize  you  sometimes  ?  " 

"  Yes ;  he  occasionally  drops  in,  and  takes  a  lit- 
tle ;  but  Jim  does  n't  favor  hard  drinking.  He 
thinks  that  many  men  drink  too  much." 

If  all  the  remarks  and  discussions  that  were  con- 
sequent upon  the  organization  of  the  Total  Absti- 
nence Society,  could  be  collected,  the  result  would 


THE   TEMPEftAtfCE   SOCIETY.  275 

be  a  volume.  But  we  must  be  satisfied  with  this 
single  illustration,  and  pass  on. 

The  members  of  the  society  studied  to  know  how 
to  make  it  interesting  and  prosperous.  Various 
plans  were  suggested,  and  many  opinions  were  ad- 
vanced. 

"  Let  us  invite  Nat  to  deliver  a  lecture,"  said 
Frank  to  Charlie.  "  He  will  prepare  a  good  one, 
and  it  will  interest  the  people  in  our  movement." 

"  I  had  not  thought  of  that,"  answered  Charlie. 
"  Perhaps  it  would  be  a  good  plan.  But  do  you 
suppose  he  would  do  it  ?  " 

"  I  think  we  could  urge  him  to  it,"  replied 
Frank.  "  He  likes  to  speak  as  well  as  he  does  to 
eat,  and  a  little  better ;  and  I  know  that  he  can 
give  a  capital  lecture  if  he  will." 

"  I  think  it  might  be  the  means  of  inducing  more 
of  the  young  people  to  join  the  society,"  continued 
Charlie.  "  The  more  popular  we  make  it,  the  more 
readily  some  of  them  will  join  us." 

"  I  will  go  and  see  Nat  at  once  about  it  if  yoi 
will,"  said  Frank.  "  If  he  does  it,  the  sooner  he 
knows  about  it  the  better." 

They  went  to  see  Nat,  and  found  him  in  his 
study.  The  subject  was  duly  opened,  and,  after 
some  urging,  he  consented  to  deliver  a  public  lec- 
ture. At  the  meeting  of  the  Society  on  that  week, 
a  formal  invitation  was  voted  to  Nat,  and  the  time 
of  the  lecture  appointed. 


276  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

At  that  time,  it  required  much  more  decision, 
perseverance,  and  moral  principle,  to  espouse  the 
temperance  cause  than  it  does  to-day.  It  was  a 
new  thing,  and  many  looked  with  suspicion  upon 
it.  Of  course,  it  was  a  better  test  of  Nat's  princi- 
ples and  purpose,  than  such  a  movement  would  be 
now.  That  it  was  a  good  stand  for  him  to  take, 
and  one  suited  to  tell  upon  his  future  character,  we 
need  scarcely  say.  It  is  an  important  event  when 
a  youth  of  this  day  resolves  that  he  will  never  tam- 
per with  intoxicating  drinks  —  and  that  he  will 
pledge  his  word  and  honor  to  this  end.  It  was  a 
far  more  important  event  then.  And  when  we  look 
upon  that  group  of  youth,  conferring  together  upon 
the  claims  of  the  total  abstinence  principle,  and 
their  resolve  to  adopt  it  in  the  face  of  opposition, 
we  can  but  record  it  as  one  of  the  most  hopeful 
and  sublime  events  of  Nat's  early  life. 


CHAPTER    XXVII. 

THE    TEMPERANCE    LECTURE. 

THE  NEWS  that  Nat  would  give  a  lecture  f-i 
the  subject  of  temperance  soon  spread  through 
the  town,  and  both  the  friends  and  the  foes  of  the- 
cause  discussed  the  anticipated  event. 

"  So  it  seems  that  Nat  is  going  to  preach  temper 
ance  to  us,"   said  a  customer  of  Miles,  the  rum 
seller.     "  I  should  think  the  little  upstart  though* 
lie  was  going  to  reform  the  town." 

"  Nat  is  no  upstart  I  assure  you  ;  but  he  is  going 
a  little  too  fast  now,"  replied  Miles.  "  He  is 
young,  however,  and  he  will  learn  some  things  in  a 
few  years  that  he  don't  know  now." 

"  I  'spose  every  dog  must  have  his  day,"  con- 
tinued the  customer,  "  and  so  it  must  be  with  timp* 
'ranee.  It  will  have  its  run,  and  then  die  ^ 
nat'ral  death.  But  it  makes  me  mad  to  see  folk* 
meddle  with  what  is  none  of  their  business.  Just 
as  if  a  man  had  n't  a  right  to  drink  when  he  is  a 
mind  to  !  " 

(2*7) 


278  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

"  It's  a  free  country  yet,"  answered  Miles,  "  and 
all  these  reformers  will  find  it  out  before  long.  But 
shall  you  go  to  hear  Nat  lecture  ?  " 

"  I  go  !  "  exclaimed  the  customer.  "  You  won't 
ketch  this  child  there,  I  can  tell  you.  Do  you 
'spose  I  would  go  to  hear  what  I  don't  believe  ?  It's 
all  nonsense,  the  whole  of  it,  and  it  shan't  have  my 
support." 

"  I  can't  agree  with  you  on  that  point,"  replied 
Miles.  "  I  sometimes  go  to  hear  what  I  don't  be- 
lieve, and  I  guess  you  do.  I  think  I  shall  go  to 
hear  Nat  if  I  can  leave.  I  want  to  see  how  he 
makes  out ! " 

"  You  may  go  for  all  I  care,"  added  the  cus- 
tomer, "  and  find  yourself  insulted  and  abused  as 
rumsellers  usually  are  in  such  lectures." 

On  the  evening  of  the  lecture,  Miles  actually 
went  to  hear  it,  and  there  was  a  good  number  of 
his  customers  present.  Curiosity  to  hear  Nat  over- 
came their  opposition  to  the  cause,  for  the  time 
being,  so  that  they  were  drawn  thither.  A  lecture 
by  any  one  else  would  not  have  called  them  out, 
but  the  attraction  now  was  too  great  to  be  resisted. 
The  hall  was  crowded  with  the  old  and  young,  and 
there  was  not  a  vacant  place  for  another. 

The  subject  of  Nat's  lecture  was  "  The  Fifteen 
Gallon  Law,"  which  was  then  agitating  the  public 
mind.  It  was  a  new  movement  by  the  advocates  of 
temperance,  and  its  friends  and  foes  were  arrayed 


THE   TEMPERANCE   LECTURE.  279 

against  each  other  for  a  hard  contest.  Nat  rejoiced 
in  the  movement,  and  therefore  prepared  himself 
to  defend  the  law.  We  will  give,  in  substance,  his 
argument. 

After  portraying  the  evils  of  intemperance  in  lan- 
guage and  eloquence  that  riveted  the  attention  of 
the  audience,  and  confirming  his  statements  by  un- 
answerable statistics,  he  proceeded  to  say  :  — 

"  That  something  must  be  done  to  stay  this  tide 
of  evil,  or  we  shall  become  literally  a  nation  of 
drunkards.  It  is  vain  to  enact  laws  to  punish  the 
drunkard,  and  still  allow  the  vender  of  strong 
drink  to  dole  out  his  poison  by  the  glass.  For  the 
poor,  who  need  every  farthing  they  earn  to  pur- 
chase bread  for  their  hungry  families,  will  spend 
their  wages  at  the  dram-shop,  and  leave  their  chil- 
dren to  starve  in  poverty  and  degradation.  The 
6  Fifteen  Gallon  Law '  is  admirably  adapted  to 
save  this  class.  They  are  never  able  to  purchase 
intoxicating  drinks  in  larger  quantities  than  by  the 
quart  or  gallon,  so  that  this  law  will  cut  off  their 
supplies.  It  is  true,  another  class,  who  possess  the 
means,  will  not  be  deterred  from  purchases  by  this 
law,  but  it  is  better  to  save  the  poor  than  to  save 
none  at  all.  This  appears  to  be  the  best  thing  that 
can  be  done  at  the  present  time  ;  perhaps  sagacious 
minds  will  yet  discover  a  universal  remedy  for  this 
mammoth  evil.  At  any  rate,  we  are  urged  by  the 
wants  of  suffering  humanity  to  advocate  this  law, 


280  THE   BOBBIN    BOY. 

which  may  redeem  thousands  of  the  poor  from  their 
cups  and  their  misery." 

The  enemies  of  the  law  contended  that  it  was 
introducing  "  a  new  principle  of  legislation,"  and 
that  while  former  laws  had  only  "  regulated"  the 
sale  of  strong  drink,  this  Fifteen  Gallon  Law  was 
"prohibitory."     To  this  Nat  replied, 

"  That  the  legislature  has  power  to  restrain  all 
trades  which  are  detrimental  to  the  public  welfare, 
and  to  regulate  or  prohibit  them  according  as  the 
public  good  requires.  Legislatures  have  always 
acted  upon  this  principle,  not  only  in  regard  to 
other  trades,  but  also  in  respect  to  the  traffic  ill 
alcoholic  drinks.  As  long  ago  as  1680,  when  the 
public  attention  was  first  directed  to  the  evils  of 
intemperance,  a  law  was  enacted  prohibiting'  the 
sale  of  a  less  quantity  than  '  a  quarter  cask,'  by 
unlicensed  persons.  It  also  prohibited  all  sales 
after  nine  o'clock  in  the  evening,  and  sales  at  any 
time  to  known  drunkards.  By  this  law  land- 
lords were  obliged  to  suppress  excessive  drinking 
on  their  premises,  and  not  to  allow  persons  to  sit 
in  their  bar-rooms  drinking  and  tippling.  In  1682, 
intemperance  prevailed  to  such  a  degree  among 
sailors,  that  a  law  was  passed  forbidding  the  sale 
of  liquors  to  this  class,  except  on  a  written  permit 
from  the  master  or  ship-owner.  In  1698,  a  statute 
was  framed  prohibiting  all  sales  to  '  any  appren- 
tice,   servant   or  negro,'   without  a  special  order 


THE   TEMPERANCE   LECTURE.  281 

from  the  master.  In  1721  another  law  was  en- 
acted prohibiting  sales  on  credit  beyond  the  amount 
of  ten  shillings  ;  and  the  reason  assigned  for  it  was, 
'  for  that  many  persons  are  so  extravagant  in  their 
expenses,  at  taverns  and  other  houses  of  common 
entertainment,  that  it  greatly  hurts  their  families, 
and  makes  them  less  able  to  pay  and  discharge 
their  honest,  just  debts.'  In  1787  this  rule  was 
reenacted,  and  subsequently  all  sales  on  credit  were 
prohibited.  Seven  years  after  the  adoption  of  the 
constitution,  a  statute  was  passed  limiting  the  sale 
to  twenty-eight  gallons  by  unlicensed  persons.  The 
statute  of  1818  prohibited  the  sale  of  liquors  '  to 
common  drunkards,  tipplers,  and  gamesters  ;  and 
to  persons  who  so  misspend,  waste  or  lessen  their 
estates,  as  to  expose  themselves  or  their  families  to 
want,  or  the  town  to  the  burden  of  their  support, 
by  the  use  of  strong  drink  —  or  whose  health  is  thus, 
in  the  opinion  of  the  selectmen,  endangered  or  in- 
jured.' Here  is  prohibition  with  a  vengeance,  going 
much  beyond  the  provisions  of  the  Fifteen  Gallon 
Law,  and  forbidding  the  sale  to  certain  persons,  and 
at  certain  times.  A  man  was  even  prohibited  from 
asking  for  credit  at  the  bar,  and  the  landlord  could 
not  grant  it  if  he  did,  without  violating  a  statute 
of  the  Commonwealth.  How,  then,  can  the  ene- 
mies of  this  measure  be  bare-faced  enough  to  assert 
that  it  is  disregarding  their  inalienable  rights  ? 
How  can  they  assert,  with  a  shadow  of  truth  on 


282  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

their  side,  that  it  is  introducing  '  a  new  principle 
of  legislation  ? '  There  is  no  other  principle  in- 
volved in  this  law  than  that  which  is  found  in  our 
statutes  controlling  the  shooting  of  certain  birds, 
the  sale  of  tainted  meat,  the  location  of  slaughter- 
houses, the  existence  of  lotteries,  and  many  other 
things  that  might  be  named  —  all  showing  that  the 
legislature  has  authority  to  prohibit  whatever  the 
public  good  requires.  That  the  public  good  de- 
mands the  suppression  of  intemperance,  who  can 
deny  ?  It  is  the  greatest  scourge  of  our  land,  and 
the  world.  It  sends  thirty  thousand  annually,  in 
our  country,  to  a  drunkard's  grave.  It  tenants 
our  almshouses  and  prisons  with  its  wretched 
victims,  and  causes  three  fourths  of  all  the  crimes 
that  fill  the  calendars  of  our  courts.  It  swells  your 
taxes  more  than  all  other  evils  combined,  and  is 
the  nursery  of  blasted  hopes  and  miseries  that 
language  cannot  describe.  If  then,  the  public 
good  requires  the  suppression  of  any  vice  in  our 
land,  it  is  this." 

Thus  he  disposed  of  this  plea  of  the  rumsellers, 
to  the  happy  surprise  and  satisfaction  of  the  friends 
of  temperance.  He  discussed  other  topics  connect- 
ed with  the  law,  and  which  we  have  not  space  to 
consider.  For  an  hour  or  more  he  held  his  audi- 
ence in  breathless  interest,  by  the  strain  of  argu- 
ment and  oratory  that  he  poured  forth  from  his 
fruitful  mind  and  earnest  heart.     A  more  delighted 


THE   TEMPERANCE   LECTURE.  283 

audience  never  listened  before  to  a  temperance 
lecture.  Its  depth,  power,  and  compass  were 
more  than  they  expected.  A  round  of  hearty 
applause  told  plainly  how  it  was  received,  as  Nat 
uttered  the  last  word,  and  took  his  seat. 

"  There,  Nat,"  said  Marcus  to  him  on  the  follow^ 
ing  evening,  "  you  did  more  good  last  night  than 
all  the  temperance  lecturers  who  have  come  to 
town." 

"  How  so  ?  inquired  Nat,  not  understanding 
his  meaning. 

"  They  say  you  fairly  convinced  Miles,  and  he  is 
going  to  stop  selling  liquor." 

"  How  do  you  know  ? "  asked  Nat,  with  a  very 
incredulous  look.  "  I  shall  want  pretty  good  evi- 
dence of  that  before  I  believe  it." 

"  He  has  told  a  half  dozen  people  so  to-day,  and 
one  of  his  best  customers  among  the  number." 

"Who  is  that?" 

"  It  was  Johnson,  who  pays  him  as  much  money 
in  a  year  as  any  other  man.  Johnson  got  excited, 
and  denounced  him  and  all  the  friends  of  temper- 
ance in  strong  language.  He  called  you  a  '  fool,' 
and  Miles  cracked  you  up  in  return,  and  so  they 
had  it  for  a  while  rather  hot,  much  to  the  amuse- 
ment of  Mr.  Fairbanks,  who  happened  to  hear 
it." 

This  was  gratifying  news  to  Nat,  and  to  all  who 
sympathized  with  him  in   the  temperance  cause  ; 


284  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

and  it  needs  some  further  notice.  This  Johnson 
was  the  customer  with  whom  we  became  acquainted 
in  another  place,  a  bitter  opponent  of  the  "  Fifteen 
Gallon  Law."  Curiosity,  as  well  as  appetite,  led 
him  into  Miles' s  shop  on  the  morning  after  the 
lecture,  for  he  wanted  to  hear  about  it.  He  had 
learned  in  some  way  that  Miles  went,  as  he  inti- 
mated to  him,  and  therefore  it  was  a  good  place  to 
go  for  information. 

"  So  you  went  to  hear  Nat  last  night  ?  "  he  said  to 
Miles,  as  he  entered  the  shop.  "Did  he  make  a 
temperance  man  of  you  ?  "  meaning  this  inquiry  for 
a  jest. 

"  Nat  spoke  real  well,"  answered  Miles,  "  and 
his  arguments  were  so  good  that  I  can't  answer 
them.     He  's  a  mighty  smart  chap." 

"  What  did  he  harp  on  last  night  ? "  inquired 
Johnson. 

"  The  Fifteen  Gallon  Law ;  and  he  showed  how 
it  would  remove  the  evils  of  intemperance,  which 
he  described  so  correctly  and  eloquently  that  I  was 
astonished.  I  don't  see  where  he  has  ever  learnt 
so  much." 

"  Larnt  it !  "  exclaimed  Johnson  ;  "  he  larnt  it 
where  he  did  his  impudence.  I  see  that  he  has 
pulled  the  wool  over  your  eyes,  and  you  are  more 
than  half  timperance  now." 

"  All  of  that,"  replied  Miles,  coolly  ;  "I  am 
going  to  quit  rum-selling  at  once.     If  I  can't  get 


THE   TEMPERANCE   LECTURE.  285 

my  Jiving  in  an  honest  way,  then  I  will  go  to  the 
poor-house." 

"  I  hope  you  ivill  go  there,"  answered  Johnson, 
starting  up  from  his  chair  under  great  excitement. 
"  A  man  who  has  no  mind  of  his  own  ought  to  go 
there.     I " 

"  I  thought  you  was  going  to  say,"  interrupted 
Miles,  "  that  I  ought  to  go  there  to  keep  company 
with  the  paupers  I  have  made.  I  am  pretty  sure 
I  should  have  you  for  a  companion  before  long,  if 
you  don't  alter  your  hand." 

"  I  never  thought  you  was  overstocked  with 
brains,"  continued  Johnson ;  u  but  if  you  will  be 
hoodwinked  by  that  fool  of  a  Nat,  you  have  less 
than  I  thought  you  had.  It  is  great  business  for  a 
man  of  your  age  to  give  up  beat  to  a  boy,  and  that 
is  all  Nat  is,  though  he  thinks  he  's  a  man." 

"  Boy  or  not,"  answered  Miles,  "  he  spoke  better 
last  night  than  any  man  I  ever  heard.  He  is  a 
first-rate  orator,  and  his  defence  of  the  '  Fifteen 
Gallon  Law  '  was  unanswerable." 

"  A  feller  ought  to  speak  well  who  has  studied 
as  much  as  he  has,"  said  Johnson.  "  He  hain't 
earnt  his  salt  for  two  or  three  years,  'cause  he  's 
too  lazy  to  do  any  thing  but  look  at  a  book." 

"  I  don't  care  how  much  he  has  studied,"  an- 
swered Miles.  "  If  I  had  a  son  who  could  speak 
as  well  as  he  does,  I  should  be  proud  of  him,  though 
he   had   done   nothing   but   study   for   ten   years. 


286  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

Your  talk  is  very  unreasonable,  and  you  know  it ; 
and  for  that  reason,  it  will  not  change  my  opinion 
of  Nat." 

"  Run  arter  him,  then,  to  your  heart's  content," 
said  Johnson,  turning  to  go  out,  "  and  be  a  timper- 
ance  man  if  you  will,  —it  '11  take  more  than  this  to 
make  you  decent  ; "  and  with  these  words  he  left 
the  premises  in  a  rage. 

Mr.  Miles  carried  out  his  determination  to  cease 
the  traffic  in  strong  drink,  and  engage  in  some 
more  honorable  business.  His  unexpected  espousal 
of  the  total  abstinence  principle,  and  the  closing 
of  his  dram-shop,  offended  many  of  the  rum  frater- 
nity. It  was  a  signal  achievement  for  the  temper- 
ance cause,  however,  and  for  the  welfare  of  the 
village. 

The  lecture  of  Nat  won  for  him  an  enviable  rep- 
utation, not  only  at  home,  but  abroad,  and  he  was 
soon  invited  to  deliver  it  in  the  neighboring  towns. 
Wherever  he  consented  to  give  it,  it  was  received 
with  decided  favor,  and  the  anticipations  of  hearers 
were  more  than  realized. 

Subsequently  he  delivered  other  lectures  on  the 
subject  of  temperance  in  his  native  village,  and  the 
people  soon  learned  that  no  lecturer  called  out  so 
large  audiences  as  he.  There  was  always  a  desire 
to  hear  him  ;  and  his  sonorous  voice,  bewitching 
eloquence,  and  sensible  thoughts,  never  failed  to 
entertain  his  auditors. 


CHAPTER    XXVIII. 

SPEECH-MAKING. 

AT  THIS  time  Nat  occupied  a  position  of  honor 
and  influence  which  few  persons  of  his  age 
ever  attain.  But  let  not  the  reader  suppose  it  was 
the  result  of  chance,  or  the  consequence  of  superior 
talents  alone.  He  was  more  indebted  for  it  to  the 
studious  habits  which  he  formed  from  twelve 
to  fifteen  years  of  age,  than  to  any  thing  else.  If 
he  had  wasted  his  spare  moments  then  in  idleness, 
—  as  many  boys  do,  —  he  never  would  have  sur- 
prised the  lyceum  with  a  speech  of  such  eloquence, 
nor  been  able  to  entertain  an  audience  on  the  sub- 
ject of  temperance.  The  habits  of  life  are  usually 
fixed  by  the  time  a  lad  is  fifteen  years  of  age.  The 
habits  which  Nat  had  established  at  this  period  of 
life,  made  him  what  he  was  five  years  later.  Those 
early  years  of  industry  and  application  could  not 
be  thrown  away  without  demolishing  the  fabric  that 
was  reared  upon  them.  They  were  the  underpin- 
ning of  the  beautiful  structure  that  so  many  delight- 

(287> 


288  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

ed  to  view  when  the  busy  architect  was  a  little 
older.  For,  if  it  could  ever  be  truthfully  said  of 
any  one,  "  he  is  the  artificer  of  his  own  fortune," 
it  could  be  said  of  Nat.  The  bobbin  boy  was 
father  of  the  young  and  popular  orator. 

It  is  generally  true,  as  we  have  intimated  before, 
that  the  influence  of  habits  at  ten  or  fifteen  years 
of  age,  is  distinctly  traceable  through  the  whole  ca- 
reer of  eminent  men.  Sir  James  Mackintosh  was 
thirteen  years  of  age  when  Mr.  Fox  and  Lord  North 
were  arrayed  against  each  Other  on  the  subject  of 
the  American  war.  He  became  deeply  interested  in 
the  matter  through  their  speeches,  and  from  that 
time  concentrated  his  thoughts  upon  those  topics 
that  contributed  to  make  him  the  distinguished 
orator  and  historian  that  he  became.  He  always 
considered  that  the  direction  given  to  his  mind,  at 
that  early  period  of  his  life,  settled  his  destiny. 
The  great  naturalist  Audubon,  was  just  as  fond  of 
birds  and  other  animals,  when  ten  years  old,  as  he 
was  in  manhood.  He  studied  natural  objects  witli 
perfect  admiration,  and  took  the  portraits  of  such 
birds  as  he  particularly  fancied.  When  he  was 
sent  to  Paris  to  be  educated,  away  from  the  beauty 
and  freshness  of  rural  objects,  he  became  tired  of 
his  lessons,  and  exclaimed,  "  What  have  I  to  do 
with  monstrous  torsos  and  the  heads  of  heathen 
gods,  when  my  business  lies  among  birds  ?  "  The 
foundation  of  his  success  as  a  naturalist  was  laid 


SPEECH-MAKING.  289 

in  his  sparkling  boyhood.  Benjamin  West  was 
made  a  painter,  as  he  said,  by  his  mother's  kiss  of 
approbation,  when  she  saw  a  picture  he  sketched, 
at  seven  or  eight  years  of  age.  He  became  just 
what  he  promised  to  be  in  his  boyhood,  when  he 
robbed  the  old  cat  of  the  tip  of  her  tail  out  of  which 
to  manufacture  a  brush,  to  prosecute  his  delicate 
art.  Thus  it  was  with  Eli  Whitney,  who  proved 
himself  such  a  benefactor  to  mankind  by  his  inven- 
tive genius.  His  sister  gives  the  following  account 
of  his  boyhood  :  "  Our  father  had  a  workshop,  and 
sometimes  made  wheels  of  different  kinds,  and 
chairs.  He  had  a  variety  of  tools,  and  a  lathe  for 
turning  chair-posts.  This  gave  my  brother  an  op- 
portunity of  learning  the  use  of  tools  when  very 
young.  He  lost  no  time  ;  but,  as  soon  as  he  could 
handle  tools,  he  was  always  making  something  in 
the  shop,  and  seemed  not  to  like  working  on  the 
farm.  On  a  time,  after  the  death  of  our  mother, 
when  our  father  had  been  absent  from  home  two  or 
three  days,  on  his  return  he  inquired  of  the  house- 
keeper .what  the  boys  had  been  doing  ?  She  told 
him  what  B.  and  J.  had  been  about.  '  But  what 
has  Eli  been  doing  ?  '  said  he.  She  replied  that  he 
had  been  making  a  fiddle.  '  Ah ! '  added  he  de- 
spondingly,  '  I  fear  Eli  will  have  to  take  his  portion 
in  fiddles.'  He  was  at  this  time  about  twelve  years 
old.  This  fiddle  was  finished  throughout,  like  a 
common  violin,  and  made  tolerably  good  music. 
19 


290  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

It  was  examined  by  many  persons,  and  all  pro- 
nounced it  to  be  a  remarkable  piece  of  work  for 
such  a  boy  to  perform.  From  this  time  he  was 
employed  to  repair  violins,  and  had  many  nice 
jobs,  which  were  always  executed  to  the  entire  sat- 
isfaction, and  often  to  the  astonishment  of  his  cus- 
tomers. His  father's  watch  being  the  greatest 
piece  of  machinery  that  had  yet  presented  itself  to 
his  observation,  he  was  extremely  desirous  of  ex- 
amining its  interior  construction,  but  was  not  per- 
mitted to  do  so.  One  Sunday  morning,  observing 
that  his  father  was  going  to  meeting,  and  would 
leave  at  home  the  wonderful  little  machine,  he  im- 
mediately feigned  illness  as  an  apology  for  not  go- 
ing to  church.  As  soon  as  the  family  were  out  of 
sight,  he  flew  to  the  room  where  the  watch  hung, 
and,  taking  it  down,  he  was  so  much  delighted 
with  its  motions,  that  he  took  it  all  in  pieces  before 
he  thought  of  the  consequences  of  his  rash  deed  ; 
for  his  father  was  a  stern  parent,  and  punishment 
would  have  been  the  reward  of  his  idle  curiosity, 
had  the  mischief  been  detected.  He,  however,  put 
the  work  all  so  neatly  together,  that  his  father  never 
discovered  his  audacity  until  he  himself  told  him 
many  years  afterwards."  *     Such  was  the  boyhood 


*  A  good  sketch  of  Eli  Whitney's  Life,  and  the  lives  of  some 
other  self-made  men,  spoken  of  in  this  volume,  may  be  found 
in  "Biography  of  Self-Taught  Men"    by  Professor  B.  B.  Ed- 


SPEECH-MAKING.  2tfl 

of  one  who  invented  the  cotton-gin,  made  improve- 
ments in  the  manufacture  of  fire-arms,  by  which 
the  national  government  saved,  as  Mr.  Calhoun 
said,  "  twenty-five  thousand  dollars  per  annum" 
and  contributed  largely  to  advance  other  mechani- 
cal arts.  How  distinctly  we  can  trace,  in  all  these 
examples,  the  moulding  influence  of  boyhood  upon 
manhood !  And  b^»w  marked  the  correspondence 
between  the  early  life  of  all  these  men  and  that  of 
Nat  t  Thus  it  is  that  the  beautiful  poem  of  Long- 
fellc^v,  "  The  Village  Blacksmith,"  is  abundantly 
illustrated  in  the  biography  of  both  the  living  and 
the  dead !     A  few  of  the  verses  are  :  — 

"  Under  a  spreading  chestnut- tree 

The  village  smithy  stands ; 

The  smith,  a  mighty  man  is  he, 

With  large  and  sinewy  hands ; 
And  the  muscles  of  his  brawny  arms 
Are  strong  as  iron  bands. 

"  His  hair  is  crisp,  and  black,  and  long, 

His  face  is  like  the  tan ; 
His  brow  is  wet  with  honest  sweat, 

He  earns  what  e'er  he  can, 
And  looks  the  whole  world  in  the  face, 

For  he  owes  not  any  man. 

wards.  Every  youth  in  the  land  ought  to  read  this  work,  not 
only  for  the  information  it  imparts,  but  for  the  incentives  to 
"  noble,  godlike  action,"  which  it  presents  on  almost  every 
page. 


292  THE  BOBBIN  BOY. 

"  Week  in,  week  out,  from  morn  till  night, 

You  can  hear  his  bellows  blow ; 
You  can  hear  him  swing  his  heavy  sledge, 

With  measured  beat  and  slow, 
Like  a  sexton  ringing  the  village  bell, 

When  the  evening  sun  was  low. 

jj£  jj£  £|g-  £)£  £|g.  ,     jfc 

"  Toiling,  —  rejoicing,  —  sorrowing, 
Onward  through  life  he  goes ; 
Each  morning  sees  some  task  begin, 

Each  evening  sees  it  close ; 
Something  attempted,  something  done, 
Has  earned  a  night's  repose. 

"  Thanks,  thanks  to  thee,  my  wrorthy  friend, 

For  the  lesson  thou  hast  taught ! 
Thus  at  the  flaming  forge  of  life 

Our  fortunes  must  be  wrought ; 
Thus  on  its  sounding  anvil  shaped 

Each  burning  deed  and  thought ! " 

But  to  return.  For  some  time  Nat's  attention 
had  been  directed  to  political  subjects,  and  he  had 
been  hither  and  thither  to  listen  to  various  speakers. 
At  length  he  became  so  enthusiastic  in  support  of 
his  own  political  tenets,  that  he  was  urged  to  under- 
take political  speech-making.  There  was  ample 
opportunity  for  the  display  of  his  abilities  in  this 
way,  since  the  political  excitement  was  strong. 

"  What  do  you  think,"  said  he  to  Charlie,  "  about 
my  engaging  in  politics  ?  I  have  been  urged  to 
speak  at  political  meetings." 


SPEECH-MAKING.  293 

"  You  better  do  it,"  replied  Charlie.  "  You  are 
well  qualified  for  it ;  and  you  always  have  taken  an 
interest  in  politics  ever  since  you  read  the  Life  of 
Jefferson.    Where  do  they  want  you  should  speak  ?  " 

"  Here,  and  in  other  places,  too ;  and  I  scarcely 
know  what  to  do  about  it.  In  some  respects  I 
should  like  it,  and  in  others  I  should  not." 

"  Do  it,  by  all  means,"  added  Charlie.  "  It  will 
not  interfere  much  with  your  studies,  as  you  will 
speak  only  in  the  evening." 

"  But  that  will  interfere  very  much  with  my 
present  plans.  It  will  be  on  my  mind  all  the  time, 
so  that  my  interest  will  be  divided  at  least.  No 
one  can  have  too  many  irons  in  the  fire,  and  attend 
to  them  all.  One  thing  at  a  time  is  about  as  much 
as  any  person  can  do  well." 

"  That  may  be  very  true,  but  why  not  make  that 
one  thing  politics  ?  We  must  have  men  to  manage 
State  affairs,  as  certainly  as  to  bo  lawyers,  physi- 
cians, and  ministers.  Besides,  if  I  can  read  you, 
Nat,  you  are  actually  cut  out  for  this  sphere  of 
action." 

"  You  don't  read  me  correctly  if  that  is  your 
opinion.  There  must  be  a  great  many  unpleasant 
things  in  such  a  life.  If  the  speaking  were  all,  I 
should  like  that  well  enough,  but  that  is  a  small 
part  of  political  experience." 

"  Try  it,  try  it,"  added  Charlie,  "  and  see  how 
you   make  it  go.     You  need   not  continue  in  it 


294  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

longer  than  you  please.  I  want  to  see  you  take 
the  stump  once.  Perhaps  you  will  make  a  Demo- 
crat of  me" 

Nat  met  the  last  remark  with  a  laugh,  and  said, 
"  That  is  too  much  to  expect.  You  are  a  hopeless 
case,  —  too  incorrigible  to  be  won  over  to  the  right 
side.  I  relinquished  all  hope  of  you  a  long  time 
ago." 

"  Now,  seriously,"  said  Charlie,  "  I  advise  you  to 
speak  at  political  meetings,  and  I  hope  you  will 
speak  here  first.  It  will  be  the  best  thing  you  can 
do.  If  I  possessed  your  abilities  for  public  speak- 
ing, I  would  do  it  iii  a  minute." 

"  Perhaps  I  shall  conclude  to  do  so,"  was  Nat's 
reply,  as  they  separated. 

The  result  was,  that  Nat  decided  to  address  a 
political  gathering  in  his  native  town  ;  and  soon  after 
he  visited  some  neighboring  places  on  the  same 
errand.  He  soon  acquired  a  reputation,  as  the 
"  young  orator,"  and  committees  waited  upon  him 
from  towns  near  and  remote.  The  adventure  of 
one  of  these  committees  rehearsed,  will  show  what 
expectations  were  awakened  by  his  spreading 
fame. 

A  committee,  in  the  town  of  ,  were  in- 
structed to  wait  upon  him,  and  secure  his  services 
at  a  great  political  gathering  there.  Accordingly 
the  committee  put  on  their  "  Sunday  suit,"  har- 
nessed the  horse  into  the  best  carriage,  and  started 


SPEECH-MAKING.  295 

for  Nat's  residence.  Meeting  a  man,  as  they  en- 
tered the  village, 

"  Where    is   Esquire (meaning   Nat)'s 

office?" 

The  person  addressed  did  not  understand  who 
was  meant  at  first,  and  asked  for  the  repetition  of 
the  inquiry,  which  was  readily  granted. 

"  Oh,"  answered  he,  "  it  is  down  yonder,"  at  the 
same  time  pointing  to  a  street  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
distant  or  more,  and  scarcely  able  to  control  his 
risibles  as  he  thought  of  the  joke  he  was  about  to 
perpetrate. 

"  Very  much  obliged  to  you,"  responded  the  in- 
quirer, at  the  same  time  whipping  up  his  horse. 

"  This  is  nothing  but  a  carpenter's  shop,"  said 
one  of  them,  as  they  reached  the  place.  "  We  must 
have  misunderstood  him." 

"  It  is  very  evident,"  said  the  other,  "  that  we 
shall  have  to  look  further  yet.  But  let  us  go  in 
and  inquire." 

So  they  alighted,  and  went  in. 

"  We  are  looking  for  Esquire 's  office.     A 

gentleman  directed  us  a  short  distance  back,  but 
we  find  that  we  did  not  understand  him." 

"  Whose  office  did  you  say  ? "  inquired  Nat's 
father,  who  happened  to  be  the  person  addressed. 

"  Esquire  's  office,  the  young  orator  we 

have  heard  so  much  about." 

Nat's  father  was  very  much  amused  at  this  turn 


296  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

of  matters ;  but  he  kept  on  a  sober  face,  and  re- 
plied,  pointing  to  Nat,  who  was  planing  a  board, 

"  That  is  the  young  man  you  want  to  see,  I  sup- 
pose." 

The  committee  looked  at  each  other,  and  then  at 
the  black-haired  board-planer,  with  perfect  amaze- 
ment. Their  countenances  told  just  what  they 
thought ;  and  if  we  should  write  their  thoughts  out 
in  plain  English,  they  would  run  thus : 

"  What !  that  young  fellow  the  stump  orator  of 
which  we  have  been  told  so  much.  We  better  have 
staid  at  home,  than  to  risk  our  party  in  his  hands. 
Why !  he  is  nothing  but  a  boy.  There  must  be 
some  mistake  about  the  matter." 

While  astonishment  was  evaporating  from  the 
tops  of  their  heads,  and  oozing  out  of  the  ends  of 
their  fingers,  Nat  had  turned  away  from  the  bench 
to  welcome  the  official  strangers.  There  he  stood 
hatless,  and  coatless,  with  his  shirt-sleeves  stripped 
up  to  his  elbows,  and  his  noble  brow  wet  with  per- 
spiration, looking  little  like  one  who  could  sway  an 
audience  by  the  power  of  his  eloquence. 

"  We  are  a  committee  from  the  town  of  — 

instructed  to  wait  on  you,  and  engage  you  to  ad- 
dress a  political  convention,"  said  one  of  them, 
breaking  the  silence. 

u  When  is  the  convention  ?  "  inquired  Nat. 

"  Two  weeks  from  this  time,  the  15th  day  of  Oc~ 
tober." 


SPEECH-MAKING.  297 

"  I  will  be  there,"  answered  Nat,  "  and  do  the 
best  I  can  for  you." 

The  matter  was  adjusted,  and  the  committee  left, 
evidently  thinking  that  an  orator  whose  office  was 
a  carpenter's  shop  could  not  be  a  remarkable'  de- 
fender of  democratic  principles.  On  their  way 
home,  they  spoke  freely  to  each  other  of  their  mis- 
take in  engaging  one  so  inexperienced  to  address 
the  convention.  They  concluded  that  it  would 
teach  them  a  good  lesson,  and  that  in  future  they 
would  not  risk  the  reputation  of  their  party  in  un- 
skilful hands. 

It  is  sufficient  to  say,  that  Nat  filled  the  appoint- 
ment to  the  satisfaction  of  the  crowd,  and  the  sur- 
prise of  the  committee.  Before  he  had  spoken 
fifteen  minutes,  the  committee  discovered  that  they 
had  misjudged  the  orator,  and  that  he  was,  indeed, 
the  youthful  champion  of  their  party.  His  speech 
fully  convinced  them  that  he  could  address  a  politi- 
cal assembly  a  little  better  than  he  could  plana  a 
board. 


CHAPTER    XXIX. 

THE    EARLY   VICTIM 

u  T  HAVE  just  heard,"  said  Nat  one  morning  to 
-*-  a  neighbor,  "  tliat  James  Cole  was  frozen  to 
death  last  night  while  intoxicated.     Is  it  true  ?  " 

"  I  had  not  heard  of  it,"  replied  the  neighbor. 
"  Some  people  at  the  head  of  the  street  were  convers- 
ing about  something  that  had  occurred  as  I  passed, 
but  I  did  not  understand  what  it  was.  Perhaps  it 
was  that.  He  has  conducted  badly  for  a  year  past, 
and  I  suppose  he  is  a  confirmed  drunkard,  although 
he  is  so  young." 

Just  then  Frank  came  along,  and,  before  Nat 
had  time  to  inquire,  proceeded  to  say,  "  James 
Cole  came  very  near  freezing  to  death  last  night, 
and  the  physician  thinks  it  is  doubtful  whether  he 
will  recover." 

"  How  did  it  happen  i  "  asked  Nat. 

"  He  spent  last  evening  at  one  of  the  grog-shops, 
I  don't  know  which,  and  staid   drinking  until  it 

(298) 


THE   EARLY   VICTIM.  299 

was  very  late ;  and  he  was  badly  intoxicated  when 
he  started  for  home,  so  that  he  did  not  get  far  be- 
fore he  fell  down  in  the  road,  and  was  unable  to 
get  up.  It  was  so  late  that  no  one  came  along 
until  this  morning,  and  there  he  laid  senseless  ail 
the  while,  and  was  completely  chilled  through 
when  Mr.  Bates  found  him  this  morning." 

"  Then  Mr.  Bates  found  him  ?  "  said  Nat. 

"  Yes ;  and  he  could  scarcely  tell  whether  he 
was  dead  or  alive  at  first.  He  carried  him  to  his 
father's  immediately,  and  sent  for  the  doctor  as 
quickly  as  possible." 

"  Do  you  know  what  time  it  was  when  he  left 
the  grog-shop  ? " 

"  No  ;  but  I  heard  it  was  very  late." 

"  Well,"  added  Nat,  "  a  man  who  will  sell  James 
Cole  liquor  until  he  makes  him  drunk,  and  then 
send  him  home  alone,  on  such  a  night  as  last  night 
was,  has  no  more  feeling  than  a  brute.  If  he 
should  die,  that  rnmseller  would  be  the  actual 
cause  of  his  death." 

"  Certainly,"  answered  Frank ;  "  it  would  not 
have  been  half  so  bad  to  have  robbed  him  of  hip 
money,  and  turned  him  away  without  any  drink. 
But  I  wonder  if  Jim  thinks  now  of  the  conversa- 
tion we  had  with  him  about  forming  the  Total 
Abstinence  Society  ? " 

"  He  has  probably  found  ont  by  this  time,"  re- 
plied Nat,  "  that  he  can't  stop  drinking  when  he 


300  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

pleases,  after  an  appetite  for  it  is  acquired.  He 
was  very  sure  that  he  should  never  be  a  drunkard  ; 
and  that  was  but  little  more  than  two  years  ago." 

"  I  never  expected  he  would  be  much,  but  I  had 
no  idea  he  would  come  to  tins  so  soon,"  added 
Frank.  "  I  scarcely  ever  heard  of  a  person  going 
to  ruin  so  quick." 

"James  was  a  very  smart  fellow,  naturally," 
said  Nat.  "  I  once  thought  he  was  the  most 
talented  fellow  of  his  age  in  town,  and  it  would 
have  turned  out  so  if  he  had  tried  to  make  any 
thing  of  himself." 

"  I  think  so,  too,"  said  Frank.  "  But  he  never 
wanted  to  be  respectable.  He  always  seemed  to 
glory  in  drinking.  He  was  earning  five  dollars  a 
day  in  the  machine-shop  when  they  turned  him 
away,  and  was  considered  by  far  the  best  workman 
there.  He  lost  his  place  on  account  of  his  intem- 
perate habits ;  but  it  never  seemed  to  trouble  him. 
It  is  my  opinion  now,  that  he  had  a  strong  appetite 
for  intoxicating  drinks  at  the  time  we  organized 
the  Total  Abstinence  Society,  and  for  that  reason  he 
opposed  it." 

"  His  case  will  be  a  good  defence  of  the  temper- 
ance cause,"  continued  Nat,  "  and  I  hope  the 
rumsellers  will  never  hear  the  last  of  it.  I  can 
scarcely  see  what  a  person  can  say  in  favor  of  the 
use  and  traffic  in  strong  drink,  with  such  an  illus- 
tration of  the  evil  before  them." 


THE   EARLY   VICTTM.  301 

The  news  of  James's  condition  spread  through 
the  village,  and  many  received  it  in  a  very  exagger- 
ated form.  Some  heard  that  he  was  dead,  and 
others  that  he  was  near  dying,  the  latter  rumor  not 
being  far  from  the  truth  Before  night,  however, 
it  was  announced  that  he  was  better,  and  there  was 
hope  of  his  recovery.  All  sorts  of  stories  were  put 
in  circulation  about  the  place  of  his  drinking,  and 
the  circumstances  attending  it.  The  rumseller 
very  justly  came  in  for  his  share  of  condemnation, 
while  he  and  his  allies  were  disposed  to  say  very 
little,  for  the  simple  reason  that  there  was  not 
much  for  them  to  say.  Such  an  instance  of  degra- 
dation in  the  \ery  dawn  of  manhood,  when  the 
dew  of  his  youth  was  still  upon  the  victim,  was  an 
unanswerable  argument  for  the  cause  of  temper- 
ance. He  who  coidd  close  Ins  senses  against  such 
an  appeal  in  behalf  of  sobriety,  would  take  the  side 
of  error  in  spite  of  the  plainest  evidence  to  the 
contrary.  It  was  not  strange,  then,  that  much 
was  said  at  the  fireside,  in  the  streets  and  shops,  and 
everywhere,  concerning  the  event,  nor  that  the  foes 
of  temperance  were  inclined  to  be  unusually  silent. 

"  Doctor  !  how  is  James  Cole  now  ?  "  inquired 
a  gentleman  who  met  him  some  three  or  four 
wseks  after  the  fatal  night  of  drunkenness. 

"  His  case  is  hopeless,''  answered  the  doctor. 
"  He  has  a  hard  cough,  and  to  all  appearance  is  in 
a  quick  consumption." 


302  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

"  Do  you  consider  it  the  consequence  of  his  es 
posure  on  that  night  ?  " 

"  Certainly,  it  can  be  nothing  else.  If  it  had 
been  a  very  cold  night  he  would  have  beeli  frozen 
to  death  in  the  morning.  I  did  not  know  that  he 
had  become  so  much  of  a  drunkard  until  this  hap- 
pened." 

"  I  did,"  replied  the  gentleman.  "  I  have  seen 
a  good  deal  of  him,  and  have  known  something  of 
his  habits.  I  was  satisfied,  when  he  was  but  six- 
teen or  eighteen  years  of  age,  that  he  had  an  appe- 
tite for  liquor,  and  I  am  not  surprised  at  the 
result." 

"  The  poor  fellow  will  soon  know  the  worst," 
added  the  doctor.  uHe  can't  live  many  weeks  at 
the  longest." 

"  I  hope  it  will  prove  a  warning  to  the  young 
here,"  said  the  gentleman.  "  The  fact  is,  I  wonder 
sometimes  that  we  do  not  have  more  of  such  cases 
when  the  temptations  to  drink  are  so  common. 
But  one  ought  to  be  sufficient  to  move  the  whole 
town  on  the  subject." 

******** 

Not  quite  twelve  weeks  have  elapsed  since  the 
foregoing  incident  occurred.  The  bell  tolls  out  its 
solemn  death-knell,  and  the  sable  hearse  is  moving 
slowly  on  to  the  grave-yard.  Sad,  tearful  mourners 
follow,  to  lay  all  that  remains  of  James  Cole  —  the 
son,  and  brother  —  in  the  silent  "  narrow  house." 


THE   EARLY  VICTIM.  303 

For  tlic  demon-vice  has  done  its  worst,  and  loosed 
the  silver  chord,  and  his  youthful  spirit  has  gone 
before  the  drunkard's  offended  God.  Alas  !  what 
painful  memories  throng  the  minds  of  beholders 
at  the  sight  of  the  long,  mournful  procession  on  its 
way  to  the  tomb !  Never  did  a  hearse  convey  more 
blasted  hopes  or  wasted  powers,  more  abused  and 
withered  ties,  or  dishonored  members,  to  the  house 
of  the  dead.  Within  that  coffin  is  the  bright  prom- 
ise of  youth,  the  strength  of  early  manhood,  paren- 
tal expectations  and  love  —  all  blighted  by  the 
breath  of  the  destroyer,  and  laid  in  as  sad  a  wind- 
ing-sheet as  ever  wrapped  a  tenant  of  the  grave. 
Oh !  how  great  the  woes  of  intemperance  appear, 
when  these  appalling  realities  dash  earthly  hopes, 
and  send  the  wretched  victim  away  to  that  world 
"  from  whose  bourne  no  traveller  returns  !  "  So 
thought  many  as  the  lifeless  form  of  James  Cole 
was  consigned  to  its  kindred  dust. 

"  Another  drunkard's  grave,"  said  the  sexton,  as 
the  stones  rattled  upon  the  coffin  which  he  pro- 
ceeded to  cover,  when  the  procession  had  retired  ; 
and  his  remark  was  addressed  to  a  neighbor  who 
stood  by  his  side. 

"  Not  exactly  a  drunkard's  grave,"  was  the  reply. 
"  James  was  intemperate,  but  he  died  of  consump- 
tion." 

"  And  was  not  that  consumption  the  consequence 
of  his  drunkenness  ?  "  inquired  the  sexton. 


304  THE  BOBBIN  BOY. 

"  I  suppose  it  was  ;  still  I  thought  we  could 
hardly  call  this  a  drunkard's  grave,  though  it  is 
true  enough." 

"It  is  too  painfully  true,"  added  the  sexton. 
"  Would  that  it  might  be  called  otherwise  ;  but  it 
cannot  be.  When  you  and  I  are  numbered  with 
the  dead,  this  spot  will  be  known  by  all  who  have 
seen  James  Cole  buried  to-day,  as  the  drunkard's 
grave.  There  are  many  of  them  in  this  yard,  but 
/never  dug  a  sadder  one  than  this." 

"  And  I  hope  you  never  will  another,"  said  the 
man. 

So  the  sexton  buried  the  sleeper,  and  turned 
away  to  his  home.  For  more  than  twenty  years 
his  dust  has  been  mingling  with  its  native  earth, 
without  a  stone  to  mark  the  spot,  nor  a  flower  to 
tell  of  hope.  But  his  early  companions,  whose 
wiser  choice  and  better  resolves  allied  them  to 
the  cause  of  virtue,  know  where  the  early  victim 
was  laid,  and  call  it  the  youthful  drunkard's 
grave. 


CHAPTER    XXX 


THE    END. 


LET  ALMOST  a  quarter  of  a  century  pass,  and 
inqixire,  where  and  what  are  Nat  and  his  asso- 
ciates now  ?  We  have  advocated  the  sentiment 
throughout  these  pages,  that  the  character  and 
position  of  manhood  are  determined  by  hoyhood 
and  youth.  How  is  it  with  the  group  of  boys  who 
have  figured  in  the  foregoing  pages  ?  Does  the 
history  of  each  one  verify  the  truth  we  have 
taught?  or  is  even  one  of  the  number  an  excep- 
tion to  the  general  principle  stated  ? 

We  have  already  seen  one  of  this  number  laid  in 
a  drunkard's  grave,  —  the  boy  who  thought  he 
could  take  the  social  glass,  according  to  the  custom 
of  the  times,  and  still  be  safe,  —  the  youth  who  had 
more  confidence  in  his  own  strength  to  resist  temp- 
tation, than  he  had  in  the  wholesome  counsels  of 
superiors.  How  speedily  the  thoughts,  habits, 
20  <305> 


306  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

and  corrupt  principles  of  his  youth,  wrought  his 
ruin  I 

Some  distance  back  in  the  story,  we  lost  sight  of 
Samuel  and  Benjamin  Drake,  —  the  two  disobedi- 
ent, idle,  reckless,  unmanageable  boys,  at  fifteen 
years  of  age.  What  has  been  their  history  ?  Alas  ' 
it  is  written  in  letters  of  shame !  The  following 
description  of  these  boys,  when  they  became  young 
men,  taken  from  the  records  of  a  State  prison,  will 
show  that  both  of  them  have  been  there  ■ 

"Samuel  Drake:  28  years  old  —  blue  eyes  — 
sandy  hair —  light  complexion.     Mass." 

"  Benjamin  Drake :  22  years  old  —  blue  eyes  — 
light  hair  —  light  complexion  —  scar  on  right  in- 
step.      ,  Me." 

We  give  the  true  record,  except  that  we  use  the 
fictitious  names  employed  in  this  volume,  and  with- 
hold the  names  of  the  towns  from  whence  they 
were  conveyed  to  prison. 

Five  years  later  to  the  records  of  the  same  prison 
was  added  the  following  : 

"  Samuel  Drake  :  33  years  old  —  blue  eyes  — ■ 
sandy  hair  —  light  complexion  —  second  comer. 
,  Mass." 

By  this  it  appears  that  Samuel  was  twice  in  the 
State  prison  by  the  time  he  was  thirty-three  years 
of  age.  What  has  been  his  course  since  that  period 
is  not  exactly  known,  though  report  said,  a  few 


THE   END.  307 

years  ago,  that  he  ended  his  life  on  board  a  pirate- 
ship. 

But  the  reader  is  surprised,  perhaps,  that  Benja- 
min should  become  the  inmate  of  a  prison  ;  for  the 
last  we  saw  of  him  was  when  he  was  preparing  for 
the  ministry  —  a  converted  youth,  as  he  thought, 
of  seventeen  years.  We  cannot  furnish  every  link 
that  connects  his  boyhood  and  manhood  ;  but  the 
painful  story  is  told,  in  substance,  when  it  is  said 
that  his  religion  proved  like  the  morning  dew,  and 
his  early  vicious  habits  returned  with  redoubled 
power,  so  that  five  years  after  he  attended  the 
prayer-meeting  with  Frank  Martin,  he  was  incar- 
cerated for  theft.  It  is  a  startling  illustration  of 
the  force  of  boyhood's  evil  habits,  often  lording  it 
over  a  man  to  his  shame  and  ruin,  even  when  he 
has  resolved  to  lead  a  better  life. 

The  remainder  of  this  group  of  boys  have  proved 
an  honor  to  their  sex,  as  the  principles  and  habits 
of  their  early  lives  fairly  promised. 

Frank  Martin  stands  at  the  head  of  a  public 
institution,  where  great  responsibilities  are  devolved 
upon  him,  as  a  servant  of  the  Commonwealth. 
Strange  as  it  may  seem,  the  institution  over  which 
he  presides  is  the  one  in  which  his  old  associates, 
Samuel  and  Benjamin  Drake,  were  incarcerated ; 
and  Frank  himself  opened  the  prison  records  for 
the  writer  to  make  the  foregoing  extracts. 


308  THE   BOBBIN   BOY. 

Charlie  Stone  has  been  connected  with  manufac^ 
tures  from  the  beginning,  advancing  from  one  post 
of  responsibility  to  another,  employing  his  leisure 
time  to  improve  his  mental  faculties ;  and  he  is 
now  the  honored  agent  of  one  of  the  wealthiest 
and  most  celebrated  manufacturing  companies  of 
New    England,   commanding   a    salary   of    three 

THOUSAND  AND  FIVE  HUNDRED  DOLLARS. 

Marcus  Treat,  perhaps  influenced  by  the  example 
of  Nat,  devoted  his  spare  moments  to  self-culture, 
and  made  commendable  progress  before  he  resolved 
to  quit  his  trade,  and  educate  himself  for  the  legal 
profession.  Without  means  of  his  own,  or  wealthy 
friends  to  aid,  he  succeeded  in  his  laudable  efforts, 
and,  without  being  able  to  command  a  collegiate 
education,  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  He  now  occupies 
a  post  of  honor  and  influence  in  a  thriving  State  of 
our  Union,  where  he  is  known  as  one  of  the  most 
popular  members  of  the  bar. 

And  Nat  —  what  and  where  is  he  ?  He  is  now 
known  to  fame  as  His  Excellency,  The  Governor  of 

,  the  best  State  in  the  Union,  which  is  only 

one  remove  from  the  Presidency  of  the  best  country 
in  the  world.  By  his  own  diligence,  industry,  per- 
severance, and  self-reliance,  he  has  fully  earned  the 
confidence  of  his  constituents.  No  "  lucky  stars," 
no  chance-game  or  accident,  can  make  a  Governor 
out  of  a  bobbin  boy ;  but  the  noble  qualities  named 


THE   END.  309 

can,  as  if  by  the  power  of  magic,  achieve  the  won- 
derful transformation.  It  is  true  of  him,  as  the 
poet  has  said  of  all  distinguished  men, — 

"  The  heights  by  great  men  reached  and  kept 
Were  not  attained  by  sudden  flight ; 
But  they,  while  their  companions  slept, 
Were  toiling  upward  in  the  night." 

And  now,  ere  the  youthful  reader  closes  this 
volume,  let  him  stop  and  resolve  to  imitate  the 
bright  example  of  him  whom  we  never  more  shall 
dare  to  call  Nat.  His  business  now  is  so  different 
from  that  of  carrying  bobbins,  and  his  position  and 
character  so  far  removed  from  that  of  student-boy 
in  his  father's  attic,  that  we  can  only  call  him  His 
Excellency,  as  we  reverently  tip  our  hat.  But  the 
leading  characteristics  of  his  youth  are  worthy  of 
your  imitation,  whether  you  desire  to  pursue  the 
path  of  knowledge  or  any  other  honorable  vocation. 
Are  you  poor  ?  So  was  he  ;  poorer  than  hundreds 
of  the  boys  who  think  that  poverty  stands  in  the 
way  of  their  success.  Are  your  advantages  to 
acquire  an  education  small  ?  So  were  his ;  smaller 
than  the  opportunities  of  many  youth  who  become 
disheartened  because  they  are  early  deprived  of 
school.  Are  you  obliged  to  labor  for  a  livelihood, 
so  that  your  "  odd  moments  "  are  few  and  far  be- 
tween ?  So  was  he ;  and  if  ever  a  lad  could  be 
excused  from  effort  on  this  plea,  it  was  he  who 


310  THE  BOBBIN  BOY. 

toiled  fourteen  hours  per  day  in  a  factory,  to  earn 
his  bread.  There  is  no  excuse  for  non-exertion 
that  will  stand  before  the  Bobbin  Boy's  example  — 
not  one.  Imitate  it,  then,  by  cultivating  those 
traits  of  character  which  proved  the  elements  of 
his  success 


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English  cloth  binding  and  illustrat.J    Any  volume  sold 

separately    $1.00  per  volume 


OARING-DEEDS    SERIES    6  vols.    Illustrated 
Daring  Deeds  of  the  Old  Heroes  of  the  Revolution 
The  Old  Bell  of  Independence  and  Other  Stories  of  the  Revolution 
The  Father  of  his  Country     A  Young-Folk's  Life  of  Washington 
The  Friend  of  Washington     A  Young-Folks'  Life  of  Lafayette 
The  Great  Peace-Maker    A  Young-Folks'  Life  of  Penn 
Poor  Richard's  Story    A  Young-Folks'  Life  of  Franklin 

THE    LIVE    BOYS*    SERIES    6  vols    Illustrated 
Live  Boys  in  Texas  Young  Trail  Hunters 

Live  Boys  in  the  Black  Hills       Crossing  the  Quicksands 
Paul  and  Persis  Young  Silver  Seekers 

NATURAL    HISTORY    SERIES     By  Mrs.  R.  Lee     Illus- 
trated by  Harrison  Weir    5  vols. 
Anecdotes  of  Animals  The  African  Crusoes 

Anecdotes  of  Birds  Reptiles  and    The  Australian  Crusoes 
Fishes  The  Australian  Wanderers 

THE    WILD    SCENES    LIBRARY     5  vols.     Illustrated 
Wild  Scenes  of  a  Hunter's  Life    Pioneer  Mothers  of  the  West 
Noble    Deeds    of    American    Gulliver's  Travels 
Women  JEsop's  Fables 

OLD   ROUGH  AND   READY  SERIES    6  vols.    Illustrated 
Old  Rough  and  Ready     Young  Folks'  Life  of  General  Zachary  laykw 
Old  Hickory     Young  Folks'  Life  of  General  Andrew  Jackson 
The  Little  Corporal     Young  Folks'  Life  of  Napoleon  Bonaparte 
The  Swamp  Fox     Young  Folks'  Life  of  General  Francis  Marion 
The  Mill-Boy  of  the  Slashes     Young  Folks'  Life  of  Henry  Clay 
The  Great  Expounder    Young  Folks  Life  ot  Daniel  Webster 

QOOD    AND    GREAT    SERIES    6vols     Illustrated 
Good  and  Great  Men  The  Whales  We  Caugh* 

Women  of  Worth  House  on  Wheels. 

A  Quaker  among  the  Indians  Inn  of  the  Guardian  Angel 

AROUND    THE    WORLD     LIBRARY     By  Jules  Verne 
Round  the  World  in  Eighty  Days  Wreck  of  the  Chancellor 
A  Winter  in  the  Ice 
DORA    DARLING    LIBRARY 
Dora  Darling  Dora  Darling  and  Little  Sunshine 

The  Year's  Best  Days 


SdS  ?y  all  booksellers  and  sent  by  mail  postpaid  on  receipt  of  prk< 

LEE  AND  SHEPAED  Publishers  Bostor 


IS 


E  AND  SHEPARD'S 

££  Star  Juveniles 

Messrs.  Lee  and  SHErARD  announce  the  following  new  line  of  12mo  Juveniles, 
consisting  of  books  by  Kellogg,  Kingston,  Ballantyne,  Headley, 
and  others.  Printed  on  a  fine  quality  of  paper,  fully  illustrated,  and  bound 
in  the  best  English  cloth,  at  $1.00  per  volume. 

By  ELIJAH  KELLOGG. 

Lion  Ben  of  Elm  Island. 

Charlie  Bell ;  The  Waif  of  Elm  Island. 

The  Ark  of  Elm  Island. 

The  Boy  Farmers  of  Elm  Island. 

The  Young  Shipbuilders  of  Elm  Island. 

The  Hardscrabble  of  Elm  Island. 

Sowed  by  the  Wind ;  or,  The  Poor  Boy's  Fortune. 

Wolf  Run ;  or,  The  Boys  of  the  Wilderness. 

Brought  to  the  Front ;  or,  The  Young  Defenders. 

The  Mission  of  Black  Rifle;  or,  On  the  Trail. 

Forest  Glen ;  or,  The  Mohawk's  Friendship. 

Burying  the  Hatchet;  or,  The  Young  Brave  of  the  Delawares. 

A  Strong  Arm  and  a  Mother's  Blessing. 

The  Unseen  Hand;  or,  James  Renfew  and  his  Boy  Helpers. 

The  Live  Oak  Boys ;  or,  The  Adventures  of  Richard  Constable 
Afloat  and  Ashore. 

Arthur  Brown,  the  Young  Captain. 

The  Young  Deliverers  of  Pleasant  Cova. 

The  Cruise  of  the  Casco. 

The  Child  of  the  Island  Glen. 

John  Godsoe's  Legacy. 

The  Fisher  Boys  of  Pleasant  Cove. 

A  Stout  Heart ;  or,  The  Student  from  Over  the  Sea. 

A  Spark  of  Genius ;  or,  The  College  Life  of  James  Trafton. 

The  Sophomores  of  Radcliffe ;  or,  James  Trafton  and  his  Bos- 
ton Friends. 

The  Whispering  Pine ;  or,  The  Graduates  of  Radcliffe. 

The  Turning  of  the  Tide ;  or,  Radcliffe  Rich  and  his  Patients. 

Winning  his  Spurs ;  or,  Henry  Morton's  First  Trial. 

tty  P.  C.  HEADLEY. 

Fight  it  out  on  this  Line ;  The  Life  and  Deeds  of  Gen.  U.  S.  Grant. 

Facing  the  Enemy ;  The  Life  of  Gen.  William  Tecumseh  Sher- 
man. 

Fighting  Phil ;  The  Life  of  Lieut. -Gen.  Philip  Henry  Sheridan. 

Old  Salamander ;  The  Life  of  Admiral  David  Glascoe  Farragut. 

The  Miner  Boy  and  his  Monitor ;  The  Career  of  John  Ericsson, 
Engineer. 

Old  Stars ;  The  Life  of  Major-Gen.  Ormsby  McKnight  Mitchel. 


By  GEORGE  MAKEPEACE  TOWLE. 
Ereroes  and  Martyrs  of  Invention. 
Vasco  da  Gama ;  His  Voyages  and  Adventures. 
Pizarro ;  His  Adventures  and  Conquests. 
Magellan ;  or,  The  First  Voyage  Round  the  World* 
Marco  Polo ;  His  Travels  and  Adventures. 
Raleigh ;  His  Voyages  and  Adventures. 
Drake ;  The  Sea  King  of  Devon. 

By  CAPT.  CHARLES  W.  HALL. 
A-drift  in  the  Ice  Fields. 

By  DR.  ISAAC  I.  HAYES. 
Cast  Away  in  the  Cold;  An  Old  Man's  Story  of  a  Young  Man'* 
Adventures. 

By  W.  H.  G.  KINGSTON. 
The  Adventures  of  Dick  Onslow  among  the  Redskins. 
Ernest  Bracebridge ;  or,  School  Boy  Days. 


By  JAMES  D.  McCABE  JR. 
Planting  the  Wilderness ;  or,  The  Pioneer  Boys* 

By  DR.  C.  H.  PEARSON. 
The  Cabin  on  the  Prairie. 
The  Young  Pioneers  of  the  Northwest. 

By  JAMES  DE  MILLE. 
The  Lily  and  the  Cross  ;  A  Tale  of  Acadia. 


By  F.  G.  ARMSTRONG. 
The  Young  Middy:   or,   The  Perilous  Avdentures  of  a  Boy 
Officer. 

By  R.  M.  BALLANTYNE. 
The  Life  Boat ;  A  Tale  of  Our  Coast  Heroes. 


Sent  by  mail,  postpaid,  on  receipt  of  price. 


Lef  and  Shepard,  Publishers,  Boston 


PILGRIM    SERIES    FOR    BOYS 


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Dies     Illustrated 


These  are  genuinely  good 
stories  written  by  authors  of 
established  reputation,  who  ap- 
preciate the  wants  and  tastes 
of  young  people,  and  selected 
for  this  series  with  great  care. 
In  all  the  books  of  the  series 
the  spirit  is  manly,  sincere,  and 
moral.  There  is  enough  of  in- 
cident and  adventure  to  make 
them  lively  and  interesting,  while 
the  principles  of  truthfulness, 
integrity,  and  self-reliance  are 
quietly  inculcated.  In  a  word, 
they  are  such  books  as  parents 
would  wish  their  children  to  read. 

Each  Volume   Complete  in 
Itself    Uniform  Cloth  Bind- 
ing     New     and     Attractive 
Price  75  cents  each 
Alexis  the  Runaway    By  Rosa  Abbott 
Abel  Grey    A  Story  for  Boys 
Burning  Prairie  or  Johnstone's  Farm     By  Mrs.  S.  B.  C. 

Samuels 
Billy  Grimes'  Favorite    By  May  Mannering 
Crook  Straightened     By  Mrs.  Martha  E.  Berry 
Crooked  and  Straight    By  Mrs.  Martha  E.  Berry 
Climbing  the  Rope     By  May  Mannering 
Country  Life 

Golden  Rule  or  Herbert    By  Mrs.  S.  B.  C.  Samuels 
Good  Luck    By  Paul  Cobden 
How  Charlie  Roberts  became  a  Man     By  Miss  Louise 

C.  Thurston 
Home  in  the  West    By  Miss  Louise  C.  Thurston 
Holidays  at  Chestnut  Hill    By  Cousin  Mary 
Jack  of  all  Trades     By  Rosa  Abbott 
Karl  Keigler  or  the  Fortunes  of  a  Foundling 
Salt-Water  Dick    By  May  Mannering 
Smuggler's   Cave   or   Ennisfellen     By   Mrs.    S.    B.    C. 

Samuels 
Little  Spaniard    By  May  Mannering 
Tommy  Hickup    By  Rosa  Abbott 
The  Charm     A  Book  for  Boys  and  Girls 
Turning  Wheel    By  Paul  Cobden 
Under  the  Sea  or  Eric     By  Mrs.  S.  B.  C.  Samuels 
Young  Detective    By  Rosa  Abbott 
Walter  Seyton      A  Story  of  Rural  Life  in  Virginia 
Worth,  not  Wealth 

LEE    and    SHEPARO    Publishers    BOSTON 


MAYFLOWER    SERIES    FOR    GIRLS 


A  series  of  books  of  sterling 
worth  for  girls,  by  well-known 
and  popular  authors,  inculcating 
principles  of  truth  and  honor 
through  bright  and  interesting 
narratives  full  of  life,  action,  aDd 
interest,  and  decidedly  whole- 
some and  instructive. 

Each  Volume  Complete  in 
Itself  Uniform  Cloth  Bind- 
ing New  Attractive  Dies 
Illustrated  Price  75  cents 
each 

1.  Actions  Speak  Louder 
than  Words  By  Kate  J. 
Neely 

2.  Angel  Children  or  Stories 
from     Cloud     Land      By 

Charlotte  M.  Higgins. 

3.  Birds  of  a  Feather    By  Mrs.  M.  E.  Bradley 

4.  Celesta  a  Girl's  Book    By  Mrs.  Martha  E.  Berry 

5.  Children  of  Amity  Court     By  Louise  C.  Thurston 

G.     Cruise    of    the  Dash  a  way    or    Katie   Putnam's   Voyage 
By  May  Mannering 

7.  Daisy  or  the  Fairy  Spectacles 

8.  Fine  Feathers  do  not  make  Fine   Birds      By   Kate   J. 

Neely 

9.  Great  Rosy  Diamond    By  Ann  Augusta  Carter 

10.  Going  on  a  Mission     By  Paul  Cobden 

11.  Handsome    is    that    Handsome    does 

Bradley 

12.  How  Eva  Roberts   gained  her  Education 

C.   Thurston 

13.  Little  Maid  of  Oxbow     By  May  Mannering 

14.  Little  Blossom's  Reward     By  Emily  Hare 

15.  Thousand  a  Year    By  Mrs.  M.  E.  Bruce 

16.  May  Coverly     A  Story  for  Girls 

17.  Minnie  or  the  Little  Woman 

18.  Nettie's  Trial     By  Mrs.  S.  B.  C.  Samuels 

19.  One  Good  Turn  deserves  Another     By  Kate  J.  Neely 

20.  Pinks  and  Blues  or  the  Orphan  Asylum     By  Mrs.  Rosa 

Abbott  Parker 

21.  Shipwrecked  Girl  or  Adele     By  Mrs.  S.  B.  C.  Samuels 

22.  Take  a  Peep     By  Paul  Cobden 

23.  Upside  Down  or  Will  and  Work     By  Rosa  Abbott  Parker 

24.  Violet  a  Fairy  Story 

25.  Wrong  Confessed  is  Half  Redressed      By  Mrs.  M.  E. 

Bradley 

LEE    and    SHEPARD    Publishers    BOSTON 


By   Mrs.  M.  E. 
By  Louise 


CHOICE    BOOKS    OF    ADVENTURE 


3. 


J     4. 


A  series  of  carefully  selected 
books  of  adventure  in  all  parts  of 
the  world.  There  is  something  here 
for  every  boy  and  girl,  the  series 
containing  adventures  on  the  sea, 
among  the  Indians,  in  exploration, 
camping  out,  hunting,  fishing,  etc., 
by  well-known  authors,  including 
Kingston,  Farrar,  Cozzens,  More- 
champ,  and  others. 

Uniform  Cloth  Binding  New 
and  Attractive  Dies  Illus- 
trated    Price  per  volume  $1.00 

1.  Anthony  Waymouth  or  the 
Adventures  of  a  Gentleman 
By  W.  H.  K.  Kingston 

2.  African  Crusoes  or  the  Ad- 
ventures of  Carlos  and  An- 
tonio   By  Mrs.  R.  Lee 

Arctic  Crusoe    A  Tale  of  the 
Polar  Sea    By  P.  B.  St.  John 
Around  the  World  in  Eighty 
Days    Translated  from    the 

French  of  Jules  Verne    By  George  M.  Towle 
Australian  Crusoes  or  the  Adventures  of  an  English  Settler  in 

the  Wilds  of  Australia    By  Charles  Rowcroft 
Australian  Wanderers  or  the  Adventures  of  Captain  Spencer 

By  Mrs.  R.  Lee 
Crossing  the  Quicksands  or  the  Veritable  Adventures  of  Hal 

and  Ned    By  Samuel  W.  Cozzens 
Cruise  of  the  Frolic    A  Sea  Story    By  W.  H.  K.  Kingston 
Down    the    West    Branch    or   Camps    and    Tramps    around 

Katahdin    By  Capt.  Charles  A.  J.  Farrar 
Eastward,  Ho  !   or  Adventures  at  Rangeley  Lakes     By  Capt. 

Charles  A.  J.  Farrar 
Live  Boys  or  Charley  and  Nasho  in  Texas    By  A.  Morecamp 
Live  Boys  in  the  Black  Hills  or  The  Young  Texan  Gold 

Hunters    By  Arthur  Morecamp 
Prairie  Crusoe    Adventures  in  the  Far  West 
Twelve  Nights  in  a  Hunter's  Camp    By  Rev.  W.  Barrows 
Up  the  North  Branch  a  Summer's  Outing    By  Capt.  Charles 

A.  J.  Farrar 
Wreck  of  the  Chancellor  and   Martin  Paz     Translated 

from  the  French  of  Jules  Verne    By  George  M.  Towle 
Winter  in  the  Ice  :  Dr.  Ox's  Experiment    Translated  from 

the  French  of  Jules  Verne    By  George  M.  Towle 
Willis  the  Pilot    A  Sequel  to  Swiss  Family  Robinson 
Whales  we  Caught,  and  How  we  Did  It    By  William  H.  Macy 
Wild  Scenes  of  a  Hunter's  Life    By  John  Frost,  LL.D. 
Wild  Woods  Life    By  Capt.  Charles  A.  J.  Farrar 
Yarns  of  an  Old  Mariner    By  Mary  Cowden  Clarke 
Young  Crusoe     Adventures   of  a  Shipwrecked  Boy     By  Dr. 

Harley 
Young  Silver  Seekers    By  Samuel  W.  Cozzens 
Young  Trail  Hunters  or  the  Wild  Riders  of  the  Plains     By 

Samuel  W.  Cozzens 

LEE    and    SHEPARD    Publishers    BOSTON 


PATRIOTIC    SERIES    FOR    BOYS    AND    GIRLS 


"  Lives  of  great  men  all  remind  us 
We  can  make  our  lives  sublime." 

The  volumes  included  in  this 
series  tend  to  inculcate  the  spirit 
of  patriotism  and  good  citizenship. 
The  boys  and  girls  of  to-day  are 
here  made  acquainted  with  the  lives 
and  characters  of  many  noble  men 
and  women  of  this  and  other 
countries.  The  information  is  pleas- 
antly and  vividly  imparted  in  the 
form  of  popular  biography  as  well 
as  fiction  by  well-known  and  popular 

JflUflLW"  n^WiW^J^^^*'  writers. 

/  nil  IwEkMt&kY- vW  Uniform  Cloth  Binding    New 

* and    Attractive    Dies     Illus- 

trated   Price  per  volume  $  1.00 

1.  Bobbin  Boy  The  Early  Life  of 
Gen.  N.  P.  Banks 

2.  Border  Boy  A  Popular  Life 
of  Daniel  Boone  By  W.  H. 
Bogart 

3.  Daring  Deeds  of  the  Revolution    By  Henry  C.  Watson 

4.  Dora  Darling  or  the  Daughter  of  the  Regiment     By  Jane  G. 

Austin 

5.  Dora  Darling  and  Little  Sunshine    By  Jane  G.  Austin 

6.  Father  of  his  Country    A  Popular  Life  6f  George  Washington 

By  Henry  C.  Watson 

7.  Friend  of  Washington    A  Popular  Life  of  General  Lafayette 

By  Heniy  C.  Watson 

8.  Great  Men  and  Gallant  Deeds    By  J.  G.  Edgar 

9.  Great   Peacemaker     A  Popular  Life  of   William  Penn     By 

Henry  C.  Watson 

10.  Great  Expounder    Young  Folks'  Life  of  Daniel  Webster 

11.  Good  and   Great  Men     Their  Brave  Deeds  and  Works     By 

John  Frost,  LL.D. 

12.  Little  Corporal  Young  Folks'  Life  of  Napoleon  Bonaparte 

By  John  Frost  LL.D. 

13.  Mill  Boy  of  the  Slashes    Life  of  Henry  Clay    By  John  Frost 

14.  Noble  Deeds  of  American  Women    Edited  "by  J.  Clement 

15.  Old  Bell  of  Independence    By  Henry  C.  Watson 

16.  Old  Hickory    Life  of  Andrew  Jackson    By  John  Frost 

17.  Old  Rough  and.  Ready     Young  Folks'  Life  of  Gen.  Zachaiy 

Taylor    By  John  Frost,  LL.D. 

18.  Pioneer  Mothers  of  the  West    Daring  and  Heroic  Deeds  of 

American  Women    By  John  Frost,  LL.D. 

19.  Printer  Boy  or  How  Ben  Franklin  made  his  Mark 

20.  Poor  Richard's  Story   A   Popular  Life  of  Ben  Franklin    By 

Henry  C.  Watson 

21.  Paul  and  Persis  or  the  Revolutionary  Struggle  in  the  Mohawk 

Valley    By  Mary  E.  Brush 

22.  Quaker  among  the  Indians     By  Thomas  C.  Battey 

23.  Swamp  Fox     Life  of-Gen.  Francis  Marion    By  John  Frost 

24.  Women  of  Worth,  whom  the  World  Loves  to  Honor 

25.  Young  Invincibles  or  Patriotism  at  Home    By  I.  H.  Anderson 

LEE    and    SHEPARD    Publishers    BOSTON 


